[Trillium]

  Ain't that the truth!

[Ema]

Have mine a good brush today's l also found 2 new scapes, these must be the only 2 bulbs I didn't cut scapes off about 8 weeks ago

[mrswashi]

First year growing garlic......what are 'scapes'.?
TA
Mrswashi

[Trillium]

Scapes is the name for the flowering stem that pops out mid-season. Garlic will always want to make 'seeds' (actually little bulbs) that resemble a flowerhead, but it's at the expense of the root bulb. Soon as you see the seedhead starting, you snap it off and use it in stir fries or whatever as it's edible.

[Beetroot queen]

Does anyone have a picture of the scapes. We had garlic a few years ago that developed what looked like second bulbs half way up the stem. I was told to take them out and burn them by one of the old boys 

[mumofstig]

A quick Google found some 

[gavinjconway]

Does anyone have a picture of the scapes. We had garlic a few years ago that developed what looked like second bulbs half way up the stem. I was told to take them out and burn them by one of the old boys 

Nooooooooooo.... eat them. You often get this secondary bulb one or two that do this..  They are just a nature throwback or deformity of a scape or bulbills growing in the stem. They are small garlic cloves so dont burn them.. These "old codgers" really come up with some mad advice  :blink:  :blink:

[JayG]

Best to pick them young, both for succulence and flavour, and to minimise the amount of energy the plant has to divert away from the bulb to produce them.

My hardneck garlic always produce scapes on nearly every plant every year - I've eaten them twice already this week stir-fried with home-grown sugarsnap peas and French beans (delicious!) 

[gavinjconway]

I've just learned from Uncle Google that only the hardneck's produce scapes.... now I know the difference in my types I've grown. 

[Beetroot queen]

Thats not what we had, we had straight stems with what looked like cloves developing half way up. They were dry and papery ( if that makes sense) they looked just like a second dry bulb on the middle of the stick.  i havent grown garlic since as the old boys said it was terrible and we should never grow on that patch again.

[Trillium]

I've just learned from Uncle Google that only the hardneck's produce scapes.... now I know the difference in my types I've grown. 

That's almost true. If softnecks are stressed by weather, as is happening now, they'll follow natural instincts and produce seed/scapes according to the Herb Society of America.

[gavinjconway]

Thanks a lot Trilly.... Nothing is ever simple is it!!

[mumofstig]

Thats not what we had, we had straight stems with what looked like cloves developing half way up. They were dry and papery ( if that makes sense) they looked just like a second dry bulb on the middle of the stick.  i havent grown garlic since as the old boys said it was terrible and we should never grow on that patch again.

Thats not what we had, we had straight stems with what looked like cloves developing half way up. They were dry and papery ( if that makes sense) they looked just like a second dry bulb on the middle of the stick.  i havent grown garlic since as the old boys said it was terrible and we should never grow on that patch again.

Pic and useful link a few posts down

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=107633.msg1210120#msg1210120

[Beetroot queen]

MOS i can see the pic but where was the link further down. Will check it out in your new post. That pic is not what was up with ours 

[rowan57]

My drying garlic is likely to do the shuffle this week, was drying on the bench, then moved to the shed Sat night due to threat of damp, now next week meant to thunder so think to the spare room on a washing airer it will be, and it will stay there then not planning to move it again!