Garlic Challenge Update

 Hopefully the garlic we all planted last year is growing well - don't be tempted to harvest it yet - unless that is, you want to use it as 'green' garlic, which can be chopped and cooked as a vegetable.

Garlic is generally ready for harvesting when most of the foliage has turned yellowy-brown and fallen over.  For me  this is usually around the end of August, but given the many micro-climates in the Colne Valley, your's may be at a slightly different time.

When harvesting garlic bulbs, gently ease them out of the ground with the assistance of a trowel, taking care not to bruise them.

Leave out to dry in the sun (hopefully) or in a dry place, where they can be stored for quite a while. In my experience, garlic harvested in Slaithwaite in early September has lasted my family until the following spring when stored correctly.

And don't forget, we are having a GRAND GARLIC CHALLENGE WEIGH IN during the Colne Valley Food Festival in mid September - details will follow and be advertised in the shop.