PH's 2017 Garlic Trials

[PureHarvest]

Here is a bulb just pulled from the middle bed. You really cant see a whole lot of clove separation until it is peeled.
Note below my hand are two dead leaves, an almost dead leaf by my thumb, then that leaves 5 "green" leaves above my hand.
These are Porcelain types, so there are a lot less cloves in a bulb than with others and the wrappers are not dried and shriveled, so I wonder if that confounds what is seen in other pics of bulbs.

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[PureHarvest]

Some that I pulled last week:

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I'm thinking I will wait until next week because the wrappers that are still "green" around the bulb i peeled today are so thick, I can't imagine more drying down time will be a risk. Or do they get really thin once they dry down all the way?

[velikipop]

From what I see on your picks and the bulbs, I don't think it will hurt to leave them for a few days longer.

[PureHarvest]

That's what I'm thinking now too.
Thanks!

[Spike2]

Beautiful pictures!! Thank you for sharing. Now I have to go read it all lol

[dmforcier]

That's a beautiful bulb that you stripped. If I got that in the store I would be very happy. Good luck with the harvest. I'm still interested to see how you do it.

[bower]

BTW about the wrapper question, I find my porcelains are keeping great with just a few wrappers. They don't shrink up the way the softneck do - and the rocamboles do after awhile because they're not as long keepers.
My New York White softneck from last year are starting to sprout - I just dug into them for the first time last weekend. It is disappointing to see green tips on them already! OTOH I have a few porcelain left and they are firm and tight as ever.
Looking great, PH. I think you got good advice, let em go another week, but they are mighty fine looking.

[Father'sDaughter]

Glad you decided to give it a bit longer. Hopefully you'll be rewarded with even bigger heads and cloves that what you have now.

Here's a good video on when and how to harvest and cure garlic that explains how the leaves determine the number of wrappers.

https://youtu.be/cAFbEaBgd9s

[PureHarvest]

Thanks everyone!
The waiting is the hardest part.

[McGee'sX-Roads]

Has anyone grown garlic to sell at markets or to chefs? Is it profitable?

[PureHarvest]

McGee, this is my first year, so no sales history yet.
I am going to be supplying a couple people who sell produce at stands and markets.
One moves product to about 20 restaurants.
I think it could be very profitable, especially when you get to the point where you are saving you own seed garlic. It is a major expense starting out.
I hoping to sell mine between 8-12 per pound. We'll see what the market can bear.

[My Foot Smells]

Originally Posted by PureHarvest

McGee, this is my first year, so no sales history yet.
I am going to be supplying a couple people who sell produce at stands and markets.
One moves product to about 20 restaurants.
I think it could be very profitable, especially when you get to the point where you are saving you own seed garlic. It is a major expense starting out.
I hoping to sell mine between 8-12 per pound. We'll see what the market can bear.

Garlic braids or ropes are a big seller and ornate to hang in the kitchen. My aunt had a patch similar to yours and had some girls braid the harvest. She has a friend in grenich village (sp?) NY and made some bank. Obv. there is no market in BFE, MO.

Heck, I would like a rope for my kitchen. Dred Locks, mon.

Just trying to help before you cut all the hair off...

[Father'sDaughter]

Softnecks are braid-able, hardnecks not so much.

And if your target market is people who will be cooking with garlic, then they'll be buying the heads. If you're selling to a craft fair type of crowd, then the braids would probably do very well.

[My Foot Smells]

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

Softnecks are braid-able, hardnecks not so much.

And if your target market is people who will be cooking with garlic, then they'll be buying the heads. If you're selling to a craft fair type of crowd, then the braids would probably do very well.

I primarily am subjugated to growing softneck only here in the south. Very interesting point on the braiding of hardneck, something I did not know.

also, good point on the market being a factor in regards to presentation. PH is going to have a truckload of garlic to unload - literally.

[henry]

From your photos I would say you could wait at least a week they are still sizing up and will get bigger, the only reason I would dig earlier would be if there was rain on the way.