How to Plant Garlic Scapes

If you want to grow garlic scapes, simply grow garlic. Garlic scapes are curly shoots that grow from the center of a garlic plant and terminate in a flower, or bulbil. Garlic growers know that cutting the scapes away from the garlic plant will allow more energy to go into the development of the garlic bulb---but savvy garlic growers also know not to throw these eye-catching shoots away.

Garlic seed stock
Basic gardening equipment (spade, rake, gloves)

Instructions

- 1
  
  Purple Stripe is just one of the interesting varieties of garlic.
  
  Choose a variety of garlic to plant. There are two major types of garlic: softneck and hardneck. Softneck garlic generally does well in milder climates, whereas hardneck garlic is suited to regions that experience cold winters. Beyond these two types, you'll have several varieties to choose from.
- 2
  
  Soil should be free of weeds before planting.
  
  Prepare the soil by tilling and removing weeds from the area you wish to plant. Add compost, decomposing leaves or manure to enrich the soil. Till the area again to work the organic matter into the soil.
- 3
  
  Any type of mulch will do--just be sure to cover your garlic plantings for winter.
  
  Plant individual garlic cloves in October. First, break apart the bulb and separate the cloves, leaving the papery skin intact. Choose the largest cloves from the bulb for planting. Push each clove into the soil about 3 to 4 inches deep, with the pointy side up. Cover the garlic seed with 2 to 3 inches of soil and pat down. Cover the area you planted with mulch.
- 4
  
  Keep your garlic plants happy with regular watering.
  
  In March, when you can see small plants emerging, remove the mulch and begin tending to your garlic. Continue weeding and watering throughout the spring. In April, your garlic will also benefit from a dose of foliage feed.
- 5
  In May, cut the garlic scapes. Scapes cut at 4 to 6 inches long are at the peak of tenderness for eating. Longer, curlier scapes will generally be too tough and woody to eat, but they look stunning in a vase. Kept in water, the bulbils will develop and open, leaving you with topsets. Plant these tiny bulbs the following spring, and you'll have a garlicky scallion to enjoy in addition to the regular garlic bulbs and scapes.

Garlic Seed Planting Instructions

How to Plant Garlic From a Sprouted Clove

Growing Garlic