Garlic Scapes

Jun 26, 2014

by Gerda Franssen, Dale Odorizzi, Lanark County Master Gardeners

What are those strange curly green things growing from the top of my garlic? If you were one of the gardeners who planned ahead last October and planted a variety of hard-necked garlic, right now you might be asking yourself just that question. Garlic is one of the few plants that provides two harvests. The first crop is those strange curly things, known as Scapes. If you cut off the curly flower stems, your garlic bulbs will grow bigger. Once you have cut them off, they are a delicious addition to your early summer dining.

If you are picking your scapes to energize your garlic, timing isn’t too important but to enjoy the mild, tender stems at their peak, pick them early. Cut the scapes as early as possible, once the flower bulb has begun to form but long before the flower blooms. The scape should still be curly, not straight. Harvest the stem in the heat of the afternoon, when the sap dries more quickly. To harvest, simply snap the stalk with your fingers, just above the first set of leaves. Use scissors or a sharp knife if you don’t want the smell of garlic on your fingers—but who doesn’t want to smell like fresh garlic? If you do not grow garlic, scapes are now a common produce item at local farmers markets. The season is very short.

Trim any woody part from the base of the scape and treat them as you would garlic. If you have more scapes than you can use fresh, grind them up in your food processor with a little cooking oil. Put them in a 250 ml canning jar or freezer bag and freeze. When you need some garlic, take the jar from the freezer and use as much as you need. The oil prevents the scapes from freezing.

Some other ideas: Steam them like asparagus. Saute in butter until tender. Stir-fry: chop in 2.5 cm lengths and add to your favorite stir-fry. Pickle them. Grill them.