When is garlic ready for harvest?

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yukoner2 Duncan, BC Jun 09, 2015

We live on Vancouver Island and planted the bulbs last October. The plants are now about 4 ft high and have scapes about 18 inches in length. Some of the lowest leaves have turned brown. See photos.

Would they be ready for harvest now?

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gardadore Saylorsburg, PA(Zone 6a) Jun 09, 2015

You scapes don't look as if they have curled yet. When they do curl cut them off and use in cooking for flavor. Cutting the scopes helps the energy go to developing stronger bulbs. You can usually harvest from the middle of July on before the bulbs split open. Try not to harvest too early but you don't want the bulbs to split open either. One source says to harvest when half the leaves are brown.

Then dry them (cure them) out of the sun in a cool, dry spot with good air circulation. They should keep until at least January.

In the fall try to plant the biggest cloves you have.

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yukoner2 Duncan, BC Jun 09, 2015

Thanks gardalore. Some of the scapes have curled quite nicely. Others, like the one in the photo haven't gotten that far yet. You've confirmed for me what I was thinking so we will soon be feasting on some scapes and, in about another month I expect, will be harvesting some delectable garlic bulbs and letting them cure.

Norm

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gardadore Saylorsburg, PA(Zone 6a) Jun 09, 2015

Sounds good, Norm. In fact I must also harvest my scapes tomorrow. We were away for a week and they curled in that time!

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yukoner2 Duncan, BC Jun 10, 2015

Here's some of the scapes a day later.

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gardadore Saylorsburg, PA(Zone 6a) Jun 10, 2015

If you Google "recipes for garlic scapes" you will get some good ideas for how to use them in cooking. Pesto is one easy idea. I also just cut them small and add them to stir fries.

This message was edited Jun 10, 2015 11:31 PM

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SusanKC Shawnee Mission, KS(Zone 6a) Jun 11, 2015

Cut the scapes early or they will be woody. We chop them up and use them where ever we use garlic. They can also be used in pesto.

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yukoner2 Duncan, BC Jun 13, 2015

Got all mine and was given a bunch from a friend that I blanched and froze.

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stephanietx Fort Worth, TX(Zone 8a) Jun 14, 2015

I cut my scapes as soon as I see them and can trim them off so that the bulbs get as big as possible. I harvest them when the bottom 2 or 3 sets of leaves turn yellow and then brown. I just harvested some last week.

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