Garlic is a member of the onion family and is a common staple of many culinary dishes. An herb, garlic is a valuable staple of the home garden because it repels many common garden pests. It is an annual plant and can be planted in the garden in the spring or the fall. It prefers full sun, well-drained soil and lots of light to grow and flourish. One of the tricky parts of growing garlic is knowing when to harvest it. Typically, the garlic is ready to harvest, or "pull," when a few of its leaves begin to turn brown.
Step 1
Stop watering the garlic a few weeks before you plan to harvest it. Browning leaves are an indication that the garlic is ready.
Step 2
Place the thin-bladed shovel in the dirt just in front of the garlic leaves. If your soil is difficult to dig through, use a garden spade instead.
Step 3
Step on the top of the shovel, pressing it into the ground and angling it toward the garlic. Dig until you are a few inches under its roots.
Step 4
Push the shovel and, using the handle, carefully rock the handle back and forth until you have dislodged the bulb and lifted it out of the ground.
Step 5
Remove the garlic bulb, shaking off any soil.
Step 6
Examine the garlic bulb. If the garlic has matured, you will be able to feel the bumps of each clove and the paper-like wrapping will still be intact around the bulb. If the bulb begins to split open or the leaves that wrap the bulb are loose or have peeled away, the garlic will not store well or keep for long.
Step 7
Repeat steps 2 through 5.
Things You'll Need
- Shovel or spade
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