Hi! If your garlis is sending up scapes then your harvest is still 4 to 6 weeks away. You should harvest them when around half the plants leaves are turning brown. If you want larger bulbs you should cut the scapes off to let the bulbs get larger.
Gary

i planted garlic for the first time this past fall. my garlic looks great! now for the dumb question. what is a scape? is that the bulby thing growing out?
thanks,
jennifer kosco

Jennifer, scapes are those things which grow up from the center of most alliums. You'd probably know them better as flower stalks. In the case of garlic, which produces bulbils instead of flowers, it's probably rather difficult to call it a flower stalk. So, someone wiser than us decided to call it a scape! As with onions, the garlic scapes are also cut off so that all of the energy is directed to producing a bulb. However, don't waste them since they are great culinary delicacies.

Martin

Here is a link that might be useful: Garlic Scapes

thanks martin for your timely answer. :)
should i cut them off close to the base? or does it matter?
i now know what a scape is. woo hoo. heh heh.
jennifer :)

Jennifer, you cut them off just where they come out of the leaves. Leaves will form on alternate sides of the plant as it grows. The scape will appear from the center after the final leaf has formed.

Martin

If you cut the scapes while they are tender, they make great eating. The Garlic Lady printed a wonderful list of recipes in another thread.

thank you all very much!
i am going out to cut them right now. :)
jennifer kosco

oh.. i think i made a booboo
as i was cutting them, i kept smelling onion.
i think i cut the onions instead!
is this bad?
thanks,
jennifer
she who is embarrased, lol :)

Onions are pretty hardy; I doubt you damaged them seriously.

phew... heh heh
i feel much better already, :)
jennifer k

The Leaves and scape stems will all smell
of delicious oniony-or-garlic aromas.

That is a sign that they're juicy and good to eat! I'm harvesting scapes today too - but from Shallots.

Green Garlic is ready when it's about 12-18 inches high, before the scape forms. About like a large green onion and looks sort of like a green onion. Pull/dig it and use just like using garlic cloves in recipe, but it's milder so more is needed in recipe.

Green garlic will turn an ordinary pot of dried beans into a gourmet delight.

Earl
Do you leave or miss a few bulbs in the fall so you have a few that send up a dozen or so nice young leaves in the spring?
I have a few out in the ground now that are about 6/8in.tall. When I pull them this spring for use I'll probably replant a few of the largest cloves and use the balance in cooking or salad and stuff.
I never have tried a whole green bulb for cooking in the fall.Does the taste differ much between spring/fall garlic used the way you mention for cooking?
Noticed any taste differences when used this way from different varieties or do most varieties taste about the same when pulled green?

How are the I'itois doing?I lost all of mine.I'll be trying again in the fall.The Catawissas Martin sent are doing great.Maybe I'll try these in my bean pot this fall to compare with the garlic and find out which recipe I prefer.
Bill

Jennifer if you need to see a scape here is a link. When they are at this stage is when I harvest.

Here is a link that might be useful: Picture of Garlic scape