Late June through early July is garlic harvest time. When about half of the leaves have turned yellow the bulbs can be dug up. Use a broad-fork to loosen the soil and gently remove the bulbs using care to avoid bruising them. Leave the roots and leaves intact for the curing process. Tie the leaves together so the garlic is in bundles of ten and hang them in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area for several weeks. Cut the stems and roots to 1/2-inch from the bulb after curing. Remove the outer layer of skin if the bulbs are dirty, but be careful not to expose the cloves. Store the bulbs in a cool, dry location and use them within the year.
If the bulbs are dug too late the skins may start splitting and the cloves will be exposed to the soil. If harvested too early the cloves will not be fully developed.
