So after months of quietly growing with very little effort or intervention from me, it’s was time to lift the garlic.

You can tell when it’s ready when about half the lower leaves are brown. The stalk lower down near the base may also feel a little soft.

Taking a fork gently prise each one out of the ground rather than pull it, keeping as much if the roots in tact because it helps them to store better.

I don’t bother washing them, I just lay them out as they, are stalk, roots and all, somewhere dry and ventilated to slowly dry. Takes a couple of weeks. Avoid letting them get wet.

Any soil still on the outside will easily shake off when dry. Then cut the tops off and trim the roots, and store in a string of other bag they will get some air.