Garlic is a staple in many backyard gardens due to its versatility in the kitchen and its many health benefits. One crucial step in cultivating garlic is managing the scapes. In this article, we'll explore what, when, why, and how to harvest garlic scapes, along with the benefits and best ways to enjoy this unique part of the plant.
What are Garlic Scapes?
Garlic scapes are the flower stalks that hard-neck garlic produces. They emerge from the center of the plant and form a curly, pig-like tail, that eventually straightens out and makes a small, bulbous flower. Soft-neck garlic does not produce scapes. The main goal of the flower is to go to seed and reproduce and that is what will happen if the garlic scapes are left unharvested.
Why Should You Remove Garlic Scapes?
Encourages Bulb Growth:
The primary reason for removing garlic scapes is to direct the plant's energy back into the bulb rather than the flower. If left on the plant, scapes will continue to grow, flower and eventually the flower will turn into seeds. This process diverts energy away from the bulb, resulting in smaller garlic cloves.
Better Harvest:
By removing the scapes, you can significantly increase the size and quality of your garlic bulbs. Larger bulbs mean more bountiful, which is the ultimate goal for every gardener.
Culinary Delights:
Garlic scapes themselves are a delicious and versatile ingredient. They have a mild garlic flavor and can be used and preserved in various ways, making them a culinary bonus to your garlic-growing efforts.
When to Remove Garlic Scapes
The best time to remove garlic scapes in when they have made one full curl, usually this is in late spring or early summer, about a month before the garlic bulbs are ready to be harvested. Waiting for this curl ensures that the scapes have developed enough to be substantial but not so much that they have started to harden or flower.
How to Remove Garlic Scapes
Removing garlic scapes is straightforward and simple to do, you can even ask your kids to help:
Identify the Scape: Look for the green stalk that is curling our from the center of your garlic plant. Make sure it has one full curl to it.
Cut or Snap: You can use garden shears or scissors to the the garlic scapes but find it easiest to snap them off close to the leaves of the plants. Simply bend the scape until it breaks. This is something even young children can do and will enjoy.
Be Gentle: Keep in mind that you want to be careful not to damage the surrounding leaves or the main stalk of the garlic plant.
Benefits of Removing Garlic Scapes
There are a few main benefits of removing the garlic scapes, we have already talked about a few of them but I wanted to highlight the benefits in their own section
Enhanced Bulb Development:
As mentioned earlier, removing the scapes helps the plant focus its energy on developing larger bulbs, instead of reproducing, which translate to a more productive harvest with large bulbs of garlic.
Preventing Bulb Split:
By removing the scapes, you are also reducing the risk of the garlic bulbs splitting open. Split bulbs are harder to store as they will have a shorter shelf life and are more susceptible to disease and rot.
Dual Harvest:
This is the best part of harvesting scapes, you get to harvest from one plant - the scapes and the bulbs. This dual benefit makes growing garlic even more rewarding and delicious.
What to Do with Harvested Garlic Scapes
Once you've harvested your garlic scapes, the culinary possibilities are endless. Here are some of my favorite ways to use garlic scapes:
Pesto: A garlic scape pesto has a light garlic flavor and is perfect for making pasta, adding to a baked potato and simply serving it with some crackers as a tasty dip.
Stir-Fry: Add sliced scapes to stir-fries for a crisp texture and a mild garlic flavor year-round
Pickles: Pickled scapes are a perfect way to make them shelf stable to enjoy year round
Grilling: A perfect side dish to any meal is some grilled scapes in oil with salt and pepper. Just grill till they are tender and enjoy
Soups & Salads: Add finely chop scapes to soups, salads and pasta for a little pop of green color and a mild garlic taste. You can also freeze chopped-up pieces of scapes to use in the winter months
Final Thoughts
Managing garlic scapes is a small but essential task that can make a big difference in your garlic harvest and can give you its own culinary delights. By understanding when and why to remove scapes, and how to use them in your kitchen, you can maximize both the yield and the culinary benefits of your garlic crop.
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