Comments on: Curing Garlic

By: Kenny Point

Kenny Point — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:08:20 +0000

Hi Catherine, in my opinion it’s always best to rotate your annual crops but sometimes that’s not as feasible especially in smaller sized gardens. So rotate if at all possible, and if not be alert and pay attention to any signs of disease building up in your soil or decreases in the production of your garlic or other crops.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:27:51 +0000

Wow! I am so happy to have found your site. This is the best cache of garlic info that I have found. Thank you! I harvested my hardneck garlic yesterday (about 300 plants) and will cure them as you suggest. My question is regarding re-planting my fall crop in the same bed. Some say its o.k. and others suggest a different location. Can you please comment. C.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 20:54:00 +0000

I have found that toward the late winter and early spring some of my garlic starts to sprout and shrivel. I freeze my garlic at this point. It seems to me to taste the same when cooked. It is not quite as good in fresh applications, but it is better than rotten garlic. Also, freezing makes the garlic peel easier than a bananna. I grow only hardneck varieties here in upstate New York, and these gerneraly don;t last as long as softneck, but hardnecks up here get huge.

By: Kenny Point

Kenny Point — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:30:08 +0000

Hi Toni, I’m not sure if there is a scientific reason that the softneck garlic varieties don’t produce scapes, but at least they can be used for creating garlic braids and wreaths, something that you can’t do with hardneck garlic varieties.

By: Toni Elka

Toni Elka — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:41:30 +0000

Hi Kenny and the rest, My husband just harvested our first crop of soft neck garlic,washed them off, then came in to see if we could find some information about how to cure them. Thanks to all for the great information. btw – We missed the scapes we used to get with our hardneck crop. Why don’t the soft necked ones have scapes?

By: Kenny Point

Kenny Point — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:46:52 +0000

Hello Lou Rose, unfortunately my garlic does the same thing after a while in storage. Probably due to less than ideal temperatures and humidity levels indoors during the winter. Some garlic varieties hold up better than others. I don’t think the bucket of water would make much of a difference but you can try it and let me know if it helps.

By: Lou Rose

Lou Rose — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:28:03 +0000

Hello, after growing garlic for several years and curing properly, I find that when I store it in my basement where it is cool and dry it becomes withered and dehydrated come early spring. What could be the problem. Is it too dry and how about putting a bucket of water near by for moisture? Do you have any answers or suggestions? Thank you. Lou Rose

By: Kenny Point

Kenny Point — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:55:53 +0000

Hi Marge, yes you can still harvest the garlic after the bulbs finish filling out. Most growers cut the garlic scapes off soon after they make their appearance.