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I had a lovely harvest of garlic in my small patch this year. The weather has been unusually dry, which is great for curing garlic. Curing partially dries the garlic protecting it for storage. It is best to cure it in a location where air can circulate around all sides of the bulbs. What I did was remove the cushions from our porch sofa – the frame makes a perfect drying rack! The garlic needs to be kept out of both sun and rain during this time. After drying for about two weeks, the covering of the bulbs will become paper-like. The stems can be now be cut above the bulb. Any remaining dirt should be brushed off of both the bulb and the roots. The roots should be trimmed to a half inch or so. The bulbs may be placed in paper or mesh bags and stored in a cool, relatively dry spot. Be sure to save the best bulbs for replanting in the fall.
Shared at: Fat Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, Traditional Tuesday, Hearth and Soul, Tuesday Garden Party, Living Green, Farmgirl Friday, Freaky Friday, Homesteader Blog Carnival
Thanks, Susan. Garlic is first on my list to plant, and I was just wondering about storage. I have started my compost (scrap bucket under the sink & yard clipping pile) & just re-read your posts re: compost and mulch. I think I will combine them as I think they will decompose quickly in this heat
but I am also going to check the AZ extension website you shared with me for more direction for creating desert mulch, etc.
Hi Lois! Be sure your compost heap has moisture as well. A dry heap won’t decompose. I can’t wait to hear more about your gardening ventures!
Thanks so much for sharing how you dry garlic! I hope to do a lot of it this fall on our new little homestead.
Sounds like you have an adventure ahead of you! Blessings!
Thanks for this information! I’ve never planted garlic, but hope to try this fall! Pinning this to my gardening board.
It’s really quite easy to grow. And what savory recipe doesn’t benefit from garlic?
Nice post, thanks for sharing with Hearth and Soul blog hop.