Growing garlic gives you the unique opportunity of harvesting twice. With garlic, you’ll harvest garlic scapes in early summer and the bulbs during late summer.
But is it compulsory to get rid of the garlic scapes?
Well, yes. If you don’t conduct the first harvest, the garlic scapes will affect the bulbs’ growth.
The garlic scapes will continue to grow and, in turn, hinder the development of the bulb.
Therefore, you should harvest garlic scapes immediately they mature. Consequently, you’ll promote the healthy growth of garlic bulbs.
What Are Garlic Scapes?
First, let’s try to understand what garlic scapes are and where they come from. If you have garlic in your garden, you’ll notice curly, green stalks towards the end of spring.
These stalks are often referred to as garlic scapes. Generally, they are the stalks of hardneck garlic plants.
Every young onion bulb often sends out a spring shoot before they mature. These spring shoots require harvesting immediately they mature.
Otherwise, they tend to expand with time hence inhibiting the growth of the bulb.
Ultimately, growing garlic is cost-effective since you get to harvest the scapes and the bulbs.
You can use both garlic scapes and bulbs to prepare a wide range of recipes. In case you are wondering, garlic scapes often look like asparagus stems.
It is perfectly safe to consume them while raw. You can also roast and grill garlic scapes.
Which part of the garlic scape do you eat?
One of the most frequently asked questions is, “Which part of the garlic scape do you eat?”
Remember, every gardener wants to make the most out of their harvested garlic scapes.
Luckily, you can eat any part of the garlic scape. The entire scape is usually edible and serves as the perfect ingredient for various recipes.
Nonetheless, note that the lower part of the garlic scape can be hard to chew. However, this part is still edible.
The best thing to do would be to taste it first and decide whether you will eat it. Some people find this section of the garlic scape delicious. Moreover, the end part of the scape, which was cut, can have a rough texture.
So, before eating the scapes, consider trimming this part until the scape appears fresher and greener. Although edible, the end of the scape might not be as delicious as the other sections.
The best thing about garlic scapes is that you can make a wide range of recipes with them.
You can make salads, sauces, dips, pesto, among others. If you love the taste of garlic on meals, you will undoubtedly enjoy garlic scapes.
Where do garlic scapes come from?
The production of garlic scapes is an integral part of growth. Usually, the garlic bulbs won’t come out before producing the scapes.
A few weeks after planting, you’ll notice the spring shoots from the bulbs. Be careful not to leave these shoots in the garden since they will hinder the growth of the bulb.
Ensure you harvest all garlic scapes to provide enough space for the garlic bulb to grow.
After harvesting and keeping the garlic fresh, gardeners can take garlic scapes to the market, where they can sell them. Alternatively, they can consume them at home.
Are garlic scapes healthy?
From the early years, garlic has been popularly known for its fantastic anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.
Does this mean garlic scapes offer the same health benefits?
Naturally, garlic scapes provide a wide range of minerals and vitamins. They are rich in vitamin C and B6.
Some of the minerals offered by garlic scapes include manganese and phosphorus.
Moreover, these stalks have low fat and calorie content that makes them perfect for weight loss.
Some of the health benefits provided by garlic scapes include:
- Garlic scapes protect you from common heart diseases since they enhance proper blood circulation.
- They contain allicin which helps you fight cancer.
- They have anti-inflammatory properties; thus, they can reduce inflammation.
- Garlic scapes make your immune system more robust, hence safeguarding you from common colds and illnesses.
Ultimately, garlic scapes have fantastic health benefits. When you harvest them, please don’t throw them away. Include them in your salads and meals to boost your overall health.
Do garlic scapes taste like garlic bulbs?
There is a slight difference in the taste of garlic bulbs and scapes. Bulbs often have a more pungent taste and smell compared to garlic scapes.
Garlic scapes usually taste like a mixture of scallion, onion, and garlic. Additionally, they taste much fresher than the bulbs.
Consequently, garlic scapes are ideal for people who don’t love the strong taste and smell of garlic bulbs. Unlike bulbs, most people find it easier to consume garlic scapes while still raw.
Nonetheless, some say that bulbs and scapes have a similar taste. At the end of the day, it all depends on the consumer. But most people report a slight difference in taste between the two.
How are garlic scapes different from ramps?
More often than not, homeowners tend to confuse garlic scapes and ramps. Ramps are also available in early spring.
Even so, you can distinguish ramps from garlic scapes since they are independent plants.
Whereas garlic scapes are typically garlic plant stems, ramps are complete on their own.
Also, they have different tastes; they taste like onion. If you can’t seem to differentiate the two, consult the grocery store attendant. They will be able to help you choose whatever you want.
Is green garlic the same as garlic scapes?
Most people think that green garlic is the same as garlic scapes. But this is not true.
Garlic scapes are often mature for harvesting, while green garlic is usually harvested even before the bulb sprouts up.
Green garlic is softer, and its taste and smell are less strong than that of garlic scapes. Even so, people use both plants to prepare the same recipes.
Try out some garlic scapes
Ultimately, it is safe to eat the entire garlic scape. However, the ends of the garlic scape might be rougher and less tasty than other sections.
You may therefore choose to trim the ends of the garlic scapes before eating. You can use garlic scapes to prepare a wide range of meals, from salads to dips.