[RJR_38]

It is my first year growing garlic so not sure when to harvest them. Everything I have read says early summer when the lower leaves are going brown. That's fine except mine are covered in rust and I removed the lower leaves!

I planted them out in September or October I think so should I be looking at harvesting now or in a few weeks?

[fatcat1955]

Pull one and see if it is ready, do not leave them too long as the bulb will shatter and start growing.

[Steveharford]

Mine will come out in about a month. They will still be swelling yet.

[Snoop]

As far as I know, you remove the scapes (flower heads) before they flower and then wait another two or three weeks. Apparently, it's a good idea to give them a feed when you remove the scapes.

[bravemurphy]

I cant tell with my leaves as they are so covered in rust, but I did have a furtle yesterday and the early purple whites are just starting to swell.
I will give them another 2 weeks I think and have another look.

[RJR_38]

Thanks! I will wait a bit longer then

[Steveharford]

Yes I read somewhere that with the hardnecks you harvest twenty days after the scapes have formed.

[Annen]

I've grown garlic every year for about 5 years now and I have never had scapes grow on them. Sometimes they get little cloves growing halfway up the stems, but never scapes.  I don't know whether they are hard or soft necked though. I think they were purple wight.

Mine are covered with rust too, but the stems are quite fat, so I'm going to pull one soon and have a look.

[Beetroot Queen]

I've grown garlic every year for about 5 years now and I have never had scapes grow on them. Sometimes they get little cloves growing halfway up the stems, but never scapes.  I don't know whether they are hard or soft necked though. I think they were purple wight.

Mine are covered with rust too, but the stems are quite fat, so I'm going to pull one soon and have a look.

I was told the little bulbs half way up are the scapes

[Annen]

I've grown garlic every year for about 5 years now and I have never had scapes grow on them. Sometimes they get little cloves growing halfway up the stems, but never scapes.  I don't know whether they are hard or soft necked though. I think they were purple wight.

Mine are covered with rust too, but the stems are quite fat, so I'm going to pull one soon and have a look.

I was told the little bulbs half way up are the scapes

I thought scapes were long flower stalks?

[Steveharford]

They are the long stalks. Usually curling round into a circle. Apparently something of a delicacy but I tried them last year and they kept repeating on me. So not something I would rush to try again.

[Beetroot Queen]

So what are the bulbs that grow on the stalks

[JayG]

They are Bulbils BQ.

[Beetroot Queen]

Oh that shows me I know nothing 

[mumofstig]

Bulbils are what sometimes grow out of the flowerheads and sometimes in the stem

Occasionally, only a partial flower stalk is produced and bulbils will form directly above the bulb.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/fruit-vegetable/growing-garlic-in-minnesota/index.html