Regarding smaller garlic cloves and messy hands, I really, really like that press I invested close to $30 in. Of course by now, months later, it probably costs $40. So, that means I won right? Spent my money instead of foolishly saving it? Anyway, it has a big long grate and is just two pieces of stainless steel that pivot into each other. No moving parts. What I do is cut however many cloves, say a 1/4 bulb, cut them in half across the center, still wrapped together. Then load them in the press cut side down, and press it. It takes some hand strength, because the long grate cup costs you some mechanical advantage compared to the little cups right next to the hinge. Then unhinge and scrape the wrappers out with the back of the plunger side. Reload with the other halves. Usually, 2 or 3 presses and that is it, plenty of garlic, of a nice size extrusion, very little backing out, and I don't have to touch the garlic AT ALL. Just knife it off right into the pan or from board to pan.

The sellers did claim the garlic could be pressed whole with no loss...well that is obviously ridiculous, but tried it to make sure and there is over 50% loss that way. I tested a good number. But I'd say pushing cut half cloves like I describe is right on par with fully peeled regarding waste, maybe better, because for just one clove, the skin will take up some space and help push all the garlic through the grate. Even better, it is faster and no touching the garlic. My only other complaint is the ugly, shiny plating they put on the back side, just so they could laser engrave their logo. It would look much better if the whole thing was brushed stainless.

@JRinPA; some mighty fine lookin', fat stalks, there!

The Gotch

373 (give-or-take) EX-scapes.


The Gotch

Anyone harvested/harvesting, yet?

We usually pull the crop on July 15th, but seeing we'll be up in Iron County 14th-20th, we'll leave it in an extra ~ week this year.

The Gotch

Just took most of the scapes off yesterday evening. Porcelains, in the pic, a couple days ago. Only the standard Purple Stripes will be another week or so. That's plenty early for us! I usually think about harvesting 3 weeks from when the scapes come off. So we may be at the same time this year, Gotch.

For those who don't know it all (with my name at the top of the list) local garden blogger Megan @creativevegetablegardener.com regales the known Universe about the fast-approaching Garlic Harvest.

https://www.creativevegetablegardener.c ... ng-garlic/

The Gotch

Ours are just barely starting to brown a couple leaf tips

@DriftlessRoots; you's have a date in mind or intend to play it by eye...?

The Gotch

@Cornelius_Gotchberg im going by eye. Last year we harvested on July 3!

2022 crop is pulled-n-enjoying a little Au Naturel drying on the benches & deck ahead of the storms later today. The Gotch

We dug our 75ish babies on Friday and they are drying in/scenting the garage.

A few weeks back when I dug mine I hung them under the carport, same as last year. It has been hot, but at least it was perma shade there with some breeze. A few days back they were pretty well dried so I trimmed the stalks a bit and got them sorted for storage. For seed, longest storage, regular (all still hanging but downstairs) and first use (trimmed short and boxed). The most organized I have ever been! I hung the much smaller crop of bulbil grown garlic in its place on the carport. That stuff won't take long to dry in this heat.

@DriftlessRoots; an atmosphere heavy with the arresting aroma of freshly pulled Garlic was the 1st thing I noticed when I went into the garage early yesterday evening and this a.m.

The Gotch

scapes are off mine. we won't be digging the garlic until august which is typical for us up yonder.
i have dug a few rounds so far, and that's it.


keith

I harvested my 88 cloves on Saturday; planted 90 but used 2 already. Today I will sort bulbs and hang in the garage after I pick out what will be replanted.

@CrazyAboutOrchids; nothin' like smacking open and slicing into that first fresh clove and having that intoxicating aroma fill the room, am I right?

'Cept when you's start to sauté it...

The Gotch

The Gotchberg exclusive Lower-Level-Below-Grade State-Of-The-Art (patent-pending) Garlic Curing Station:


The Gotch

1st trimming of Bulb Stalks midway through curing. The Gotch

Vacation is now over and last week of it I was busy with harvesting. I got all of the garlic dug up and cleaned to dry.

There were some damage from onion fly maggots, but nothing, which I could not handle while cleaning. I did not get any huge ones this year, but I am quite happy with my harvest. There was no partial skins or splitted bottoms like some previous years.

Last fall I halved my planting from previous seasons and it made everything much easier, since I did not have to spend so long time cleaning and wonder where to hang them all. I decided that it is best to concentrate on quality and not quantity.


Sari

@svalli; HeyZeus Alou! Outfreakin'standing!

How did you's get those Magnificent Monster Bulbs so clean? And those stalks look positively verdant!

I see some scapes still attached, is that your approach?

The Gotch