Garlic IPM Newsletter No. 10 — July 17, 2026
Mesonet Updates! The Maine Mesonet has recently grown by four stations, which you can check out on the Maine Climate Office Mesonet page. The new stations are located in Walpole, Hope, Sidney, and Presque Isle. The two midcoast stations have been linked to NEWA, and Sidney and Presque Isle will appear as NEWA locations soon. While the Augusta area is already represented in NEWA, it is an airport weather station, so the Sidney station should provide data that is more representative of farm conditions.
Harvest Time
Garlic harvest has begun at our two southernmost scouting locations, and will begin in Monmouth and likely Washington next week. While precipitation has been relatively low in some areas, this has generally been preferable for garlic where irrigation is possible, and crops look healthy and well-sized.
Proper harvest and curing practices are critical for a high quality, long-storing crop. Remember that any injuries to the bulb or neck at this point are an invitation to pests and pathogens.
When is garlic ready to harvest?
The only way to be sure is to dig up a few plants – cut them in half width-wise, and if they appear to be filled out, it’s time to harvest. This often coincides with two aboveground signs that can clue you in on when to begin checking bulbs. First, look at any scapes that may have been left on plants. They typically unfurl and point to the sky when bulbs are fully developed. Second, look at the leaves. Senescence, or die back, of the bottom third of the leaves typically indicates maturity. Whatever indicators you use, it is advisable to start checking sooner than later. Leaving garlic unharvested for too long can cause bulb wrappers to split and cloves to splay apart, rendering them unmarketable.
How do you harvest garlic?
While a tractor-drawn undercutter is the ideal tool for this task, those who grow garlic on a small scale generally use a garden fork. Do not pull up bulbs without first prying them loose with a tool because this can damage necks. Keep the tools a safe distance away from bulbs to keep from injuring them. For the same reason, do not knock bulbs together to remove soil.
While garlic must be cured to store long-term, the harvested crop should not be exposed to full sun or excessively hot temperatures. Harvested bulbs may be left outside for an overcast day or so, but should quickly be moved to a covered space with good ventilation. When mature bulbs are exposed to very high temperatures, they may develop waxy breakdown – a disorder in which cloves turn amber and jelly-like, and the bulb becomes unmarketable. High tunnels and greenhouses are not ideal curing locations for this reason, unless they have shade cloth. Tops can be cut to 6-8″ if desired at harvest, to make them more manageable. All residue should be removed from the field to reduce pests and disease in following seasons.
How do you cure garlic?
Curing should be done in a covered, well-ventilated area. Bulbs can be cured in a single layer on mesh tables or trays, or hung in bundles. Fans can be used to provide supplemental airflow; the goal is to dry down leaves and necks as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Garlic should be cured for a minimum of two weeks, but may take longer depending on ambient conditions. Fully cured bulbs will have hardened central stalks, constricted necks, and dry, crispy wrapper leaves. At this point, tops can be trimmed to 1-2″, and roots can also be pared back (take care not to injure the basal plate). If markets demand very clean bulbs, remove one or two wrapper leaves; do not wash bulbs.
How do you store garlic?
Once fully cured and trimmed, garlic can be moved to long-term storage, and it is important to consider whether it will be used as table (eating) or seed (planting) stock. Only the largest and most impeccable bulbs should be used as seed stock. Planting stock should be stored at 60-70% relative humidity (higher humidity than this triggers root growth) and about 55-60°F. Table stock should be kept similarly dry, but much cooler, 30-32°F. Any garlic known to have bulb diseases (ex: Fusarium) or to be infested with mites should also be kept at this cold temperature to reduce pest growth and activity. Well-cured and properly stored garlic should keep for 6-7 months.
Garlic Testing
If you are considering using your crop as seed stock, it is advisable to submit a plant sample to the UMaine Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab to ensure that it is free of persistent pests and diseases. There are two test options for garlic.
The General Plant Disease ID (test code 001) requires only one plant sample, and will report any pest or disease found on the sample, including the garlic seed test targets listed below.
The Garlic Seed test (test code 002) is advised for those intending to use or sell their crop as seed stock and requires five plants per submission. This test only looks for three very serious garlic pests that are notably damaging and persistent: bloat nematode, white rot, and Botrytis neck rot. While the general plant disease test might identify these in a sample, as noted above, this specific seed test is meant to ensure that these pests and pathogens are not present in the seed lot.
Peyton Ginakes, PhD
Research Associate
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Highmoor Farm
52 US-202
Monmouth, ME 04259
(207) 933-2100
This project is funded by a Specialty Crop Block Grant through the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry. Funding for the Maine 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program was made possible by a grant/cooperative agreement from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.
Where brand names or company names are used, it is for the reader’s information. No endorsement is implied nor is any discrimination intended against other products with similar ingredients. Always consult product labels for rates, application instructions and safety precautions. Users of these products assume all associated risks.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity institution and provider committed to nondiscrimination. For more information, visit extension.umaine.edu/nondiscrimination.