[bravemurphy]

Is it better to leave the flowers on or take them off before harvest.

I have read taking the flowers off gives a bigger bulb.

Never grown it before always grown early purple white.

[peedee555]

hi i trim the flower stem before it even starts to think about flowering did it last week and again with the new grow this week chopped them up small and used them in a bolognaise very tasty

[DD.]

Don't expect elephant garlic to have a lot of flavour.

It's not a true garlic and is a relative of the leek.

[gavinjconway]

Steam the "Scapes" when they are still at the bent stage and they are delicious.. splurge on a bit of butter and salt!! Also I have them with white sauce.. mmmm....

[Paul Plots]

I simply snap them off and plonk them on the compost heap - don't leave them on.

As DD says the flavour is not like an ordinary garlic. They are fine OK wrapped in tin foil and baked in the oven or dropped in with a roast but, having grown the things for several years, this year mine are just in the ground to give me the option of planting more next year or not as the case may be. My son likes them - I'm not keen.

Much to my surprise they have germinated and grown this year despite being left to hang in the shed for two seasons.    I thought I'd seen the last of them. 

Good fun to lift.... they are usually huge!

[sunshineband]

This is the first year mine have actually got flower stalks on them 

I hope it is a sign of things to come

[simonwatson]

Don't expect elephant garlic to have a lot of flavour.

It's not a true garlic and is a relative of the leek.

You're right, weight for weight they're very mild. But I think clove for clove they're about equal. I've also found this year, despite what others report, that they keep very well. I'm still using last year's now.

[bravemurphy]

Its not really just the eating they are for , its going to be the fun and the face on my son when he lifts them 

Thanks for your replies, I will cut them off when they a little bigger and eat them 

[Paul Plots]

Its not really just the eating they are for , its going to be the fun and the face on my son when he lifts them 

Thanks for your replies, I will cut them off when they a little bigger and eat them 

Take a camera and snap a few of your son when he sees them. 

[gavinjconway]

I'm really looking forward to mine.. first time growing them this year.

[Paul Plots]

I'm really looking forward to mine.. first time growing them this year.

Remember to let the tops dry a good deal before lifting and then keep them dry / in the sun for a while before storing.

Good luck!

[gavinjconway]

Yup - thanks Paul..

[Rayskib]

Sorry new to site and to garlic.
1st time growing so thank you for advice.
Does normal garlic flower or is mine just going to seed and do I chop tops off to stop them flowering?

[Yorkie]

Welcome to the site 

Normal garlic is the same - chop it off 

[mumofstig]

Yup, chop the garlic flower stems off - and eat them
They're called scapes if you look them up for recipe ideas