Time to harvest my garlic

My garlic was planted about 10 months ago.  It is now almost completely brown, so it is time to harvest it.  I will replant part of the cloves I harvested in about 6 weeks.

After pulling all of the garlic out of the ground I shake off as much soil as possible.  Now I will leave the garlic to sit for a couple of days and then I will be able to shake off more soil.  Then I will cut of the stock (called the neck) and put them in the refrigerator to be used throughout the next 12 months.

Now three days later the garlic is dry.  Cut off the roots and stocks.  Rub off the remaining soil and put it all in your compost.

Here is the garlic ready to store in the refrigerator.  Some I will use for planting.  The tiny ones are good for adding to oil and making your own garlic flavored oil.  I put the lid on mine and snap 2 to 3 corners on tight, but never close the lid all the way.  This will barely last until next years crop is ready to harvest.  Sometimes a few go moldy or soft before the next harvest is ready.  Keep them dry and cool and they will keep longer.

Two plants going to seed and how to make onions grow bigger

This is one of the broccoli plants I saved to go to seed.  The yellow flowers are starting to die off and soon there will be little pods that will have the seeds in them.

Here is a spinach plant that will soon start developing seeds.  I will put a paper bag over it and bend the plant over carefully so I don't break the plant and let the seeds fall into the bag.  I will post pictures when it is time to start collecting the seeds.  This is the same plant that was in the last post.  It is bigger now.

Here is one of the onion flowers just about ready to open.  If you look closely you can see how the skin is rippled and holding the petals inside.  Now is the time to cut if off.

 I took scissors and cut the flower off close to the bottom of the bloom stock.

Here you can see how I have started bending the tops of the onions over.  Just break/crack the tops enough to keep them from standing back up.  Now the plant will put its energy back into the onion and not the leaves or flower.