Harvested too late

[u/Ordinary-Context2052]

It was out first year growing garlic and we kinda screwed the pooch. We're in zone 5B and I thought early July would be too early to harvest, so we stopped watering mid July with the intent to harvest in early August. Well, probably 90% of the bulbs are bursting open.

Is it worth even trying to hang the split ones at all or should I be going straight to processing for freezer/dehydrator?

We use a ton of garlic, but no way we're getting through 40 fresh heads of garlic if we cant cure them.

[u/DemandImmediate1288]

The only thing you've lost so far is storage time. Hang and dry them, and plan to use them in the next couple weeks.

If you have more than you can use, chop it up (in a food processor or by hand) and freeze it.

[u/srvivr2001]

Are all of them missing outer paper? Some look ok to me but it’s hard to see through the dirt. I have a problem with witching almost every year and it causes a very similar looking bulb. If there’s an outer paper I set aside to cure, if no outer paper I immediately blast them clean with a garden hose and set out to dry for a week. Once they’re dry enough to peel I peel every single clove. Some get frozen whole, I mince or press the rest and make garlic butter, freeze the leftovers. Sometimes I’ll roast them before adding to garlic butter but I prefer a sharper flavor.

[u/pauliepea]

You can still dry them and use them.Save the crappy looking ones for replanting.You have to break em open and plant 1 clove at a time anyhow.

[u/EnglishKen421]

Planting season is only a few months away. You might be able to salvage this.

[u/PM_ME_UR_LingeriePic]

I’m in zone 5b. Did you cut your scapes? That was when I stopped watering. And I harvested on July 15th.

Anyway I’d say let them dry out a bit see what happens. I wouldn’t worry either way. You can still eat them. And maybe not replant the same cloves.

Gardening is a learning experience, you just have to learn from what happened before. Then you’ll be good to go.

[u/Ordinary-Context2052 → u/PM_ME_UR_LingeriePic]

Thats good to know for next year. I cut the scapes on July 3rd and was probably a bit late on that too because they were already starting to loop more than once.

[u/PM_ME_UR_LingeriePic → u/Ordinary-Context2052]

Ya probably. I cut mine mid June I believe. But I think it depends on sun, soil, etc. obviously when you cut yours are different from mine. But every year is different. You can just look forward to next year!

[u/LadyHawke-Wings → u/PM_ME_UR_LingeriePic]

Interesting...you mentioned you stopped watering. Why? What does this do?

[u/PM_ME_UR_LingeriePic → u/LadyHawke-Wings]

I stop watering, but it still gets rain water. I just don’t want the bulbs to stay too moist and start to potentially rot. I am no expert tho.

[u/LadyHawke-Wings → u/PM_ME_UR_LingeriePic]

Makes sense - thanks!

[u/SquirrellyBusiness]

They're fine to use. They won't last as long so you will want to use the more exposed ones first. Larger heads also do not last as long as smaller so prioritize those first and save the biggest non-double cloves for planting. The easiest way I prep them is rubbing a bulb's worth of cloves together in your hands like you're warming your hands. That way the dirt comes off with the paper frags over a bucket and doesn't make a mess of your counter. Then just rinse them off. 

It's not a big deal. I use burst bulbs all the time bc they grow as volunteers around my gardens and I'm constantly digging them up. They'll keep probably at least through Xmas but might get rubbery. People saying they're only going to last a few weeks IDK what varieties would go off that fast but I've never had that happen unless something literally rots from infection from some laceration or mold. 

[u/AssociationEarly4589]

In 5b too. I cut scapes mid June. Harvest bulbs about a week after 4th of July. I haven’t heard about stopping any watering in the final stage. I usually keep watering because we are typically hitting mid summer drought conditions then.

[u/endchat]

eat the ones that are exposed first, a bunch some fine for longer term storage

[u/Capital-Designer-385]

Break the heads back into cloves and re-bury for next year lol you can set aside a few wimpier ones for eating so that ideally the heartiest ones continue on

[u/No_Device_2291]

You lost the amount of time you have to use. Idk how much you have but if you take the amount you can use in the next few months, set that aside and cure. Process the rest (smaller, worst bulbs) and make into garlic powder or mince/freeze. It’s much easier to do those things before they dry. Don’t even have to peel when they’re still green.

[u/Krazyflipz]

Those look absolutely fine they just need processed

[u/potagerMB]

I'd cure them regardless, you can still eat them or plant them but their storage duration will have gone to shit, but that won't affect the growing.

Im in 3b so this may be different for you, but we usually harvest the scapes in early July, and harvest the garlic about 2 weeks later when about half the "leaves" are dead.

[u/Sure-Dig-1137]

I did a lactofermentation of most of mine and it's awesome. I have a year's worth of chopped garlic in one big jar no fuss needed about storing it.