The garlic scape is the curly, green flower stalk that grows from the center of hardneck garlic varieties. If left to mature, this stalk will eventually form a flower and produce tiny seeds, called bulbils. Removing the scape is a common practice among gardeners. This signals the plant to stop directing energy toward reproduction, ensuring the maximum possible size for the underground garlic bulb.
Why Trimming Scapes is Necessary for Better Garlic Bulbs
The biological reason for removing the scape is to redirect the plant’s energy resources. Garlic prioritizes reproduction once the flower stalk emerges, diverting energy and nutrients upward to develop the flower.
Leaving the scape attached means energy is spent forming the flower and subsequent bulbils, rather than enlarging the edible bulb beneath the soil. Removing this structure forces the plant’s metabolic energy downward. This redirection contributes directly to a larger, more robust garlic bulb, with some research indicating an increase in final bulb size by 20 to 30 percent.
When to Trim: Recognizing the Optimal Time
Timing the removal of the scape is important for maximizing bulb size and ensuring the scape remains tender for eating. Scapes typically emerge from the top of the leaves about four to six weeks before the main bulb is ready for harvest, usually in late spring or early summer.
The most reliable visual cue for trimming is the formation of the scape’s characteristic curl. The scape initially grows straight up, then develops one or two full loops or coils. The optimal time to cut is after the scape has formed at least one full curl but before it begins to straighten out again. If the scape straightens, the plant is heavily committed to flowering, and the stalk will become tough and woody, reducing its culinary quality.
Precise Technique for Trimming Garlic Scapes
The technique for removing the scape should be quick and precise to avoid damage to the main stalk and leaves. Use a clean, sharp pair of scissors, gardening shears, or a knife to make the cut. A clean tool helps prevent the transmission of any potential plant diseases.
Locate the point where the scape emerges from the center of the uppermost leaves. Make a single, decisive cut just above this point, leaving a small stub of about a half-inch. Cutting too low, into the leaves or the main stem, reduces the plant’s ability to photosynthesize, negatively affecting the final bulb size. The goal is to remove the reproductive stalk while preserving the maximum leaf surface area.
Once removed, the entire curly stalk is edible, though some gardeners trim the slender tip just below the flower bud because it can be slightly tougher. After cutting, the plant requires no special care beyond its normal watering and mulching routine.
Culinary Uses for Fresh Garlic Scapes
The harvested scapes offer a mild, delicate garlic flavor, less pungent and sharp than a mature clove. They are a versatile ingredient, often described as a cross between chives and garlic. They maintain a tender-crisp texture when cooked, similar to asparagus or green beans.
They can be blended into a vibrant pesto, replacing or supplementing traditional basil. Scapes can also be chopped and sautéed in stir-fries, omelets, or used as an aromatic base for soups and sauces. For simple preparation, toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then grill or roast them whole until tender and slightly charred. If you have a large harvest, scapes can be preserved by pickling them or by chopping and freezing them in olive oil for use throughout the year.