When to harvest garlic

In Minnesota, harvest garlic by late July when the lower leaves have turned brown but the top 4–5 leaves are still green.

The window: By late July in Minnesota, once the lower leaves are brown while the top 4–5 leaves remain green and the bulbs are well-formed but not splitting their wrappers.

The lower leaves are turning brown while the top 4–5 leaves remain green.
The bulbs are well-formed but not splitting their wrappers.
Dig one test bulb with a garden fork; if the cloves are distinct and the skins are tight, it is time.
If the cloves are not yet distinct or the skins are loose, wait a bit longer.

The mistake to avoid: Harvesting too early leaves bulbs small, while waiting too long lets the cloves split and reduces storage life.

Timing varies by region and year; your local extension office is the closest authority.

Grounded in: extension.umn.edu. Every timing follows sentences verified verbatim on those pages.

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