When garlic is fully grown, it goes through several stages of development before reaching maturity. Let me take you through the journey of a garlic plant, from planting to harvest, and describe what it looks like at each stage.
1. Planting: Garlic is typically planted in the fall, around late September to November, depending on your region. The planting process begins with separating garlic bulbs into individual cloves. Each clove is then planted with the pointed end facing up, about 2 inches deep into well-drained soil. You may notice small green shoots emerging from the soil within a few weeks.
2. Vegetative Growth: As the garlic cloves take root and establish themselves, the plant starts to grow leaves. The leaves are long and narrow, resembling grass blades. They begin as a vibrant green color and gradually elongate and arch over time. The number of leaves can vary, but most garlic plants produce between six to nine leaves.
3. Bulb Formation: As the garlic plant continues to grow, it diverts its energy from leaf production to bulb formation. Each leaf extends down the stem and wraps around the developing bulb, providing protection and contributing to the papery layers that cover the cloves. The bulb itself starts to swell and take shape, becoming more prominent as it matures.
4. Maturity: When the lower two or three leaves of the garlic plant turn yellow or brown, it is a clear indication that the bulbs are ready to be harvested. This process typically occurs in late spring or early summer, depending on when you planted the garlic. At this stage, the garlic plant may reach a height of about 2 feet, and the bulb should have developed its characteristic shape.
Fully grown garlic bulbs are typically round or slightly elongated, depending on the variety. They range in size, with some smaller bulbs about the size of a golf ball and larger ones reaching the size of a tennis ball. The outer papery layers of the bulb are usually white or off-white and gradually become thicker and more protective as the garlic matures.
When you peel back the layers, you will find individual cloves nestled within the bulb. Each clove is covered in a thin, papery skin and is typically a creamy white color, although some varieties may have a purple or pink hue. The cloves are arranged in a circular pattern around the central stem, with larger bulbs often containing more cloves.
It’s important to note that garlic’s appearance can vary slightly depending on the variety you are growing. There are numerous cultivars available, each with its own unique characteristics in terms of bulb size, shape, color, and clove arrangement. So, the exact appearance of fully grown garlic can differ slightly from one variety to another.
Fully grown garlic plants have long, narrow leaves that wrap around the developing bulb. When the lower leaves turn yellow or brown, it indicates that the bulbs are ready to be harvested. The mature garlic bulbs are round or slightly elongated, covered in white or off-white papery layers, and contain individual cloves arranged in a circular pattern.
