June is an ideal time to harvest garlic scapes – here’s how to pick them at the perfect time for tasty, tender stems

Growing garlic is simple, but there is a second underrated crop from hardneck varieties, and this one is rarely seen in stores. So, when you see stems coming out of plants in late spring or early summer, it is highly recommended to harvest garlic scapes.

These unique stalks only appear when you grow hardneck garlic; you do not get to harvest garlic scapes with softneck varieties. In spring, you will notice the stalks being produced before the bulbs fully mature. They are edible, tender like asparagus and with a delicious, mild garlic flavor, and can be used in soups, stews, stir-fries, or are perfect for making pesto.

Not only are they mouth-watering, but it is always advisable to pick garlic scapes, as this allows your garlic to focus its energy on developing a larger bulb. This guide reveals when to harvest garlic scapes so you can enjoy them at their peak texture and flavor.

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

Depending on your climate, garlic scapes are ready to harvest from the middle of May to the middle of June. Their timing will depend on your US hardiness zone and the seasonal weather, as they can appear in April in particularly warm springs.

Debra Knapke, an experienced gardener and designer at The Garden Sage, admits the window to harvest garlic scapes is generally getting earlier and earlier. ‘In Ohio, it used to be mid-June, but appearance and harvest are earlier than when I first planted garlic in the late 90s,’ she revealed. ‘This year, garlic scapes started growing the last week of May.’

The scapes are not all ready to harvest at the same time, so regular pickings are required over a few weeks. If you plant different garlic varieties, their scapes will be ready to harvest in batches, meaning you can enjoy the delicious scapes over a longer period.

The scapes appear after the bulb starts to develop. After you plant garlic in fall, the plants establish roots and foliage before the bulb forms. Then the scapes appear as part of the garlic’s natural reproductive cycle in the spring.

The garlic sends out a stalk from the center of the plant; you’ll see it rising out of the foliage. The perfect time to harvest garlic scapes is when the stalks have risen above the leaves and started to spiral. ‘I like to harvest right after the scape starts to elongate and curve, as they are tender and wonderful for using in stir-fries,’ says Debra Knapke.

It is best to pick them quickly when they start to curl, as the scapes do go woody and tough. ‘They are tender for about one to two weeks, they toughen as the flowers get ready to bloom,’ adds Debra. ‘A scape is past its prime when it is no longer flexible or when it forms flowers and starts to bloom.

‘An older scape could still be used for pesto as you can process it well. But it would not be enjoyable in a stir-fry.’

It is beneficial to harvest garlic scapes not only because they are tasty, versatile, and nutritious, but also because removing them means you have bigger garlic to harvest.

Snipping off the scapes prevents the energy from going into flowers and seeds, instead focusing it on developing the bulbs. And it can mean bulbs up to 50% larger come harvest time.

Debra Knapke

Debra is a vastly experienced garden designer, author, and speaker in Central Ohio. She was previously the honorary president of the Herb Society of America and has co-authored six books on plants and garden design. Debra has grown garlic and harvested garlic scapes for decades.

How to harvest garlic scapes

To harvest garlic scapes, wait until the stalk starts to spiral, then carefully cut it as close to the base as possible using a pair of sharp pruning shears or garden scissors, taking care not to inadvertently cut any leaves.

An alternative is to snap the stem between your thumb and forefinger where it emerges from the leaves. Again, do this very carefully to avoid damaging the foliage.

It is recommended to harvest garlic scapes in dry weather, including waiting for any early dew to evaporate before going picking. And remember to check your garlic weekly to remove scapes at their prime, before they straighten out.

Use garlic scapes as soon as possible after picking. Harvested garlic scapes can be kept for a few days in a glass of water. Alternatively, pop them into an airtight zip-top bag and they can be stored in the refrigerator for a few weeks

FAQs

How long after scapes do you harvest garlic?

It is usually 3-4 weeks after you harvest garlic scapes that the bulbs are ready to harvest. The tell-tale sign to know when to harvest garlic is that the leaves turn yellow and die back.

Can you harvest garlic scapes too early?

It would be a harvesting mistake not to wait for the scapes to curl before picking them. Garlic scapes harvested too early will not have the same tender texture and mild garlic flavor as those picked at the perfect time.

To help you get the best harvest possible, there are some crucial times throughout the growing season to fertilize garlic.

It all starts with adding compost or well-rotted manure to the site before planting the bulbs in fall. Then, in spring, the overwintered bulbs will benefit from a feed with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, such as chicken manure pellets, blood meal, or seaweed extract.

Out of those three options highlighted above, I have often used organic chicken manure pellets, such as these available at Walmart, to feed my garlic along with other crops in my vegetable garden.