Postharvest Storage of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Grown in Minnesota

Hardneck garlic varieties are the preferred types grown in cold climates, and they are typically planted in the fall, so that low winter temperatures promote bulb induction. Storage recommendations for garlic vary widely in the popular literature, and data-based storage recommendations are based on publications from the 1950s using softneck varieties. To learn how hardneck garlic shelf life is affected by storage temperature, on-farm and laboratory-controlled comparisons of ‘Chesnok Red’ and ‘Music’ bulb weight loss at 4 and 0^⁰C were done in studies conducted from 2022–24 and 2023–25. ‘Inchelium Red’, a softneck garlic, was also grown and stored in 2022–24 as a comparison with the hardneck types. In both years of the study, all garlic bulbs stored at 0^⁰C lost 5% to 7% of fresh weight, whereas bulbs stored at 4^⁰C or higher temperatures lost 35% to 40% fresh weight. Most bulbs stored at 4^⁰C, and none of those stored at 0^⁰C, started to sprout after 9 months in storage in 2023–24. In the following year of the study, only one ‘Music’ bulb stored at 4^⁰C sprouted. When transferred from 0^⁰C to room temperature after 9 months of storage from 2023–24, less than 10% of the ‘Music’ bulbs sprouted, whereas none of ‘Chesnok Red’ bulbs sprouted, even 2 months after transfer to room temperature. Fresh weight loss was greater after transfer to room temperature of bulbs stored previously at 4^⁰C than at 0^⁰C. Farmers who are selling hardneck garlic for consumption should store garlic at 0 to 4^⁰C. Farmers selling garlic for planting should store cured hardneck garlic at >4^⁰C, which can include room temperature (20^⁰C), as the time between curing and planting is usually about 3 months.