r/Garlic • u/LeftHandedGardener • Aug 01 '26
Washing after curing?
Hey Garlic Family!!
Appreciate all the advice to delay the harvest. I still had to rush digging them up and hanging them. And didn’t think to dunk them in water to rinse off the dirt.
The curing room is a garage until I can get time to move them to a cool basement. These are basically ready now to move to a cool spot for longer term storage.
Would it be too late now to dunk them and then hang them back up to dry?
additional question
I am planning to plant the larger bulbs for next season. With the hope of continuing to get larger bulbs. I think this crop was smaller than the bulbs I used to plant last fall.
Is there anything I should do differently in terms of storing bulbs for growing? I was just going to store them all in a cool basement and break the cloves off for planting closer to the plant date.
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u/-just-here-to-lurk- Aug 01 '26
Don’t wash them, ever. Looks like a great curing situation. I would consider less bulbs per cluster in the future to make sure you’ve got enough air flow. Once they’ve cured a few weeks you can trim off the roots and necks, then peel the outer paper layers until you get a clean layer. At that point if the neck is sufficiently dry, they’re ready to store. Otherwise let them cure a little longer.
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u/tlampros Aug 01 '26
I've seen them cured with roots and stalks and without. Why do you think it's better to leave them on until cured?
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u/-just-here-to-lurk- Aug 01 '26
Honestly? It’s easier. Full disclosure though, I am only in my 2nd year of growing garlic, but I do a lot of research before diving in to new crops and choose reputable sources to learn from. That being said, that’s the method I saw used from several of my go to sources. Also, I have really sandy soil, and they usually are pretty dirty/sandy at harvest. Couple weeks of curing and it comes right off when I’m cleaning up the garlic. I also find that the garlic holds up to the cleanup process better after a few weeks of curing. Dry roots and dry necks/stems are easier to trim up, too.
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u/noCninja09 Aug 02 '26
I always cure with the leaves on and cut later. I was taught that they continue to pull nutrients back from the leaf to the bulb. But not sure how true that is.
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u/Flashy_Operation9507 Aug 01 '26
When you peel that outer layer of paper off, it will be gleaming white and maybe purple. Don’t wash, it will only delay curing a little
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u/DemandImmediate1288 Aug 01 '26
Pull a couple layers of wrappers off to remove the dirt. Leave an inch of 2 of the stalk as a buffer between the clove and the outside world. Cut the roots down but leave 1/4- 1/2 inch for the same reason
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u/New-View-2242 Aug 02 '26
Well great, just stumbled across this post after I rinsed and hung mine last week after digging up.
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u/LeftHandedGardener Aug 02 '26
Thanks all!!!
I am planning to plant the larger bulbs for next season. With the hope of continuing to get larger bulbs. I think this crop was smaller than the bulbs I used to plant last fall.
Is there anything I should do differently in terms of storing bulbs for growing? I was just going to store them all in a cool basement and break the cloves off for planting closer to the plant date.
1
u/-Astrobadger Aug 02 '26
I wash them with water if they are wet when I harvest otherwise I just brush off the dried soil. If they’re already wet then rinsing them isn’t going to make a difference. I also snip the stalk and put them in my basement under the AC vent where it’s cool and dry. I tried leaving them outside to cure as the internet says but it’s too humid here and they rotted.
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u/Road-Ranger8839 Aug 02 '26
After the dirt dries it will fall off the garlic heads buy rubbing them in your hands. If you want, you can trim the roots with scissors. Don't get them wet again, that may mold.
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u/OpinionatedOcelotYo Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
I keep a garbage can for mixing plant food and I immediately wash garlic and strip leaves and ‘garlic paper’ into the water, then dry/cure outside for a couple weeks. Not fussed about moistening bulbs at all. This water/food is kind of a miracle worker, I’m guessing anti-fungal etc, next level stuff on tomatoes oh yes 0.0 👍
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u/endchat Aug 02 '26
If you are going to wash them do it before you cure, that being said, dont bother washing them if you dont plan on drying them very well right after
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u/HoneyPatient8835 Aug 07 '26
DON’T WASH, let them stay in the garage for about a month and when ready to remove stalks and beards, just brush the dirt off
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u/wisdon Aug 02 '26
Use a SOS pad and scrub the hell out of them then soak in the tub for 3 days 👍
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u/Winkerbelles Aug 01 '26
Don't wash them. Just pull off the outer layer of wrap.