Waiting
Choose a day when the soil is extra dry, preferably when the soil is loose and going on a couple days of dry heat. This will allow you to pull out the bulbs with the stalk attached without worry of tearing or breaking. Be delicate as the bulbs will bruise if handled roughly.
Curing
Combine stalks in groupings of 6-8 and leave in a dry, dark, and airy environment for about 2-4 weeks. Wait until the stalk is brown from head to bulb and bulb has grown to form papery and ruffled skin. At this point, they are ready to completely clean and store.
Cleaning and Pruning
Cut stalks an inch above the bulb and then go for the roots. Using a soft to medium-strength brush, clean off the bulbs of remaining dirt and try not to remove too much skin. The larger the bulbs, the tastier and flavor-packed they will be.
Storing
Garlic loves mid-30 temperatures so be sure to keep bulbs in cool and dry climates to get the most out of them.
Common storage locations include:
- Fridge
- Basement
- Pantry
- Garage
Eating
If above steps are followed and bulbs are stored properly, you can expect to have fresh and flavorful garlic until January.
Source
“Harvesting and Curing Garlic” Cedar Circle Farm, accessed July 14, 2021, https://cedarcirclefarm.org/tips/entry/time-to-harvest-your-garlic.