Garlic Scapes?

[Kestrel]

Hi all

Only my 2nd year of growing garlic and first of "Sprint" a hardneck variety. It is currently sending up flower stalks (called scapes I believe). I know these can be removed and eaten but have heard differing ideas about the flavour and how the size of the final bulb is affected. Wondered what people thought and what I should do.

Also have "Purple Wight" desribed as "semi-hardneck" but can't find out what this means. Does it send up scapes or not? Or do only half of them send up half sized scapes half of the time...?

Kes

[bearded bloke]

We cut some Saturday to put in a stir fry,time for cutting being determined by the fact we have just run out of stored cloves from last years crop sorry not a very helpful answer.

I THINK semi-hardneck are bred for early cropping,someone more knowledgeable will be along during the day to help more positively I hope

[Rhona]

We left the scapes intact on our hard neck ones last year until harvesting. Used those varieties first (mainly because I couldn't plait them) and cooked with the scapes. The bulbs were were smaller, but the flavour was good.

Anyway, that more knowledgeable person will be along in a minute...

[Jeanied]

So how do you cook with scapes and which part do you use - just the flower head or the stalk as well?

[bearded bloke]

We used the whole thing Jeanie,chopped into about 20mm lengths & just bunged in the pan with the beansprouts,peppers,etc,having eaten it raw in a salad we did notice it to be a much milder taste after being cooked

[Likac66]

I went to the River Cottage Canteen this week, in Devon. I had scapes for a starter. They were whole stems with flower - approx 20cm tall I would say. They had been very lightly breadcrumbed and fried and served with lemon goat curd. They were absolutely delicious and quite a mild taste.

[bearded bloke]

Will be trying the scapes from elephant garlic this weekend,might give that ^^ a go

[SvetCesneku]

Sprint is not a hardneck. If what you have is a hardneck, it's not Sprint

Sprint is not a hardneck. If what you have is a hardneck, it's not Sprint

Only my 2nd year of growing garlic and first of "Sprint" a hardneck variety. It is currently sending up flower stalks (called scapes I believe). I know these can be removed and eaten but have heard differing ideas about the flavour and how the size of the final bulb is affected. Wondered what people thought and what I should do.

Also have "Purple Wight" desribed as "semi-hardneck" but can't find out what this means. Does it send up scapes or not? Or do only half of them send up half sized scapes half of the time...?

Kes[/QUOTE]