Cutting back garlic scapes

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lafko06 Brimfield, MA(Zone 5a) May 04, 2007

Hello,

Well, my garlic scapes are about 1 foot out of the ground. I just re-read the directions on my seedsaversexchange sheet and it says to cut them back when they are about 10". I can do that, but do I literally cut them down to the ground?

The next set of instructions says to pull the garlic out around June (depending on your climate) when there are 5 green leaves showing and the rest of the leaves are brown. BUT, if I cut them back to the ground, are some new leaves going to come up? Or, are they talking about part of the scapes?? I'm confused...

Thanks.

Megan

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Jazzpunkin Springfield, OH(Zone 5b) May 04, 2007

Are you talking about the scape which is the flowering part or the leaves? When you say "cut them to the ground" it sounds like you are talking about the entire plant. You never cut the plant itself down to the ground..at least I never do.. but the scapes come up later in the year and yes I cut those off unless I want the bulbules.. you can cook them up when you cut them off and they are very nice.. (either the bulbules or the little scapes) but if you let them form bulbules it takes away from the main head of garlic.
Anyway..back to your question.. You can cut it down almost to the ground or just cut off the end part

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lafko06 Brimfield, MA(Zone 5a) May 04, 2007

I'm going to take a picture and post what I'm talking about so I can be sure I'm talking about the right thing.

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Jazzpunkin Springfield, OH(Zone 5b) May 04, 2007

Here is a website with pictures of garlic scapes. you could cut then back to the first leaf

http://garden-view.blogspot.com/2006/07/garlic-scapes_06.html

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lafko06 Brimfield, MA(Zone 5a) May 04, 2007

Okay Jazz, thank you. I don't have those curly que's yet. Just the straight ones growing up in the picture. Thank you for the link!!!

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Jazzpunkin Springfield, OH(Zone 5b) May 04, 2007

You are welcome.. You won't regret growing your own garlic.. it is really pretty easy and so very worth it! :)

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