Learn why you should harvest garlic scapes before they make their first turn and how to use them in the kitchen. Garlic scapes are the flower stalks of hardneck garlic that can be eaten or planted for more bulbs. Learn how and when to harvest garlic scapes for bigger bulbs, plus tips for storing, cooking, and preserving this early summer garden crop.
Once the scape is removed, the plant will naturally seal the small wound and redirect its focus to bulb development. Post-Harvest Storage and Culinary Use Garlic scapes are a versatile, seasonal ingredient with a flavor profile similar to garlic cloves but notably milder. If you grow garlic at home, you're in for a treat because you actually get TWO harvests from the same plants in the same season.
The stiff, curly flower stems that only appear on hardneck garlic are edible, and removing them will actually improve your main garlic harvest. Learn how to harvest garlic scapes AND get the part that most people miss! Learn when and how to harvest garlic scapes, the soft stalks that emerge from garlic plants, and how to enjoy them in various dishes.
Find out the best time to snip them, how to store them, and how to preserve them for later use. Garlic scapes are the first tender shoots of garlic plants - and they're much too good to waste. Learn how to harvest and use these flavorful early greens.
When and how to harvest garlic scapes As mentioned, when you grow garlic, you get scapes from hardneck varieties. This includes when you grow elephant garlic, a unique, large variety considered a hardneck that produces baseball-sized bulbs with a milder flavor than other types. When to harvest garlic scapes (Image credit: Getty Images/ Dale.
If you are seeing scapes, it means you are growing hardneck garlic and doing something right. When to Harvest Garlic Scapes Timing matters with garlic scapes, and this is where observation beats calendars. Scapes usually appear a few weeks before the garlic bulbs are ready for harvest.
Garlic scapes offer versatile uses in cooking thanks to their bright flavor and tender texture: Pesto: Blend chopped scapes with nuts (pine nuts or walnuts), Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper for a fresh twist on traditional pesto. Stir-Fries: Slice thinly and sauté with vegetables or proteins for added aroma and mild heat. Learn all about harvesting garlic scapes and bulbs for best flavor and storage life.
This full guide includes timing, techniques, and proper curing methods.
