If you planted hardneck garlic last fall, come early summer (early June for us in zone 6a!), you may notice something curly and green emerging from the centre of your plants. That’s the garlic scape—and while it’s often overlooked, it’s one of the best little bonuses of growing your own garlic.
But don’t let them get away from you. Scapes are the flower stalk of the plant, and if left to mature, they’ll divert energy away from the garlic bulb forming underground. Snapping them off at the right time helps the plant focus its energy on developing a larger, healthier bulb—your actual garlic harvest. Consider it a small but important task that can make a big difference come harvest time.
The purpose of this post is to compile a whole bunch of information in one spot for anyone new to growing garlic, wanting to grow garlic in the future, and to act as a reference point if, come springtime, you forget what you’re supposed to be doing with those scape things! I’ll cover the following in this post:
- What a garlic scape is
- When and how to harvest it
- What it means for your garlic bulbs
- And a few of our favourite ways to use garlic scapes in the kitchen
What is a garlic scape?
A garlic scape is the curly flower stalk that hardneck garlic sends up in early summer. Left alone, it would eventually bloom and go to seed—but most gardeners remove them before that happens.
Why? Two reasons:
- Garlic are a seasonal kitchen treat. Scapes are edible and delicious, with a mild garlicky taste and a snappy texture, and you can only get them in the late spring!
- Bulb development. Cutting off the scape helps the plant redirect energy into the bulb underground, giving you bigger garlic at harvest.
When to Harvest Garlic Scapes
You’ll usually see scapes start to appear in late spring to early summer—about 3 to 4 weeks before the garlic is ready to harvest. They pop up as a single stalk from the center of the plant and curl into a loop or two.
Best time to cut?
Once the scape has done 1–2 full curls. If you wait too long, the stalk gets tougher and more fibrous, making it harder to enjoy in the kitchen.
How to remove it:
You can snap the scape off with your fingers or snip it with clean garden scissors. Cut near the base, but leave the rest of the leaves alone.
Does harvesting the scape tell me anything about the garlic bulbs?
Yes! Scapes are like nature’s little calendar. When you see scapes start to curl, you can expect garlic harvest time in about 3–4 weeks, depending on the variety and weather. Keep watering and watching your plants—yellowing bottom leaves will be your next sign that it’s almost time to dig. So mark your calendars when those scapes come up, and keep an eye on those lower leaves to best time your garlic harvest.
What to Do With Garlic Scapes (Recipes We’ve Tried!)
Here are some of our favourite ways to use garlic scapes in the kitchen. This is our second year growing garlic, and last year, when I harvested the scapes, I felt at a loss for how to use this new-to-me ingredient. I decided to change that this year and experimented with some recipes. Hopefully, you can find at least one of these that would fit your family, and you can give it a try. I don’t want you to lose a year of garlic scapes, like I did, because you’re not sure where to start with them. I kept it fairly simple, but wanted some quick and easy recipes. Life can be busy this time of year, and I didn’t want to feel like I had to set aside a significant amount of time to incorporate the scapes into our meals. If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you may recognize these!
1. Garlic Scape Pesto
Classic and versatile—spread it on toast, swirl it into pasta, or spoon it over grilled veggies. My kids love pesto added to pasta and meatballs. No picture for this one, but here’s the recipe:
1 cup garlic scapes, chopped
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
1/3 cup nuts (pine nuts or walnuts)
Juice from 1/2 a lemon
1/2 cup olive oil
Combine the first four ingredients and blend until smooth, adding the olive oil gradually.
2. Grilled or Roasted Garlic Scapes
A quick toss in oil and a few minutes on the grill (or in a hot oven) make them tender and slightly smoky. When we roasted them, I cooked them in the oven for 15 minutes at 400°F.
3. Scrambled Eggs with Garlic Scapes
Chopped finely and sautéed for just a minute before adding eggs—super simple, super flavourful. I chopped up 1-2 scapes (they vary in size) for every four eggs. Pre-saute your scapes for 2-3 minutes to soften them, then pour in your egg mixture and cook them as usual. Serve with some fresh bread or toast.
4. Garlic Scape Compound Butter
Whipped with butter and salt, it makes an incredible topping for steak, corn, or bread. We did approximately 1/2 cup butter, 1-2 scapes, and zest from half a lemon. We love it on sourdough bread to create a decadent garlic toast.
5. Garlic Scapes Added to Pizza
Perfect addition to your favourite homemade pizza crust. They offer a light garlic flavour that pairs well with traditional pizza toppings. We did sweet Italian sausage, red peppers, bacon, and scapes. Topped with shredded cheese and put in a preheated oven (400°F) for 20 minutes. To simplify, consider buying premade pizza dough or flatbreads.
Final Thoughts
Garlic scapes are one of those fleeting, seasonal ingredients that make growing your own food feel extra special. They mark the transition between spring and summer, and they’re a reminder to keep paying attention—because timing matters in the garden and the kitchen.
Whether you’re grilling them, tossing them in scrambled eggs, or adding them to some butter, don’t let scape season pass you by. And if your garlic is starting to curl, you know what to do—get snipping!
