PS- Do I have to cut the scapes, and until what stage in development are they edible? What happens to the garlic if I don't cut the scapes?

~Rose

Hi Rose,

First off, don't "pull" the garlic - best to dig them so as to not break them. Best time to harvest is when most of the garlic plant is brown, but still has about 3-4 green leaves. The scapes should be cut when they appear, or at least before they get tall and woody, and can be eaten when young and tender. If you don't cut the scapes, the garlic heads will be smaller.

Hope this helps!

Tom

this is the first time I've ever tried to grow garlic, and I don't know much about it...what are "scapes"? I'm totally clueless.

Scapes are the flower stalks. You are supposed to cut the flower buds off before they flower so all that growing energy goes to the bulb. Unless you want the seeds, of course.

thank you for the info. I don't have scapes yet, so I just let it keep growing until the leaves turn brown?