Garlic
Our Varieties:
We plant two varieties of garlic: hard-neck and soft-neck. The major differences between the two are the clove arrangement (hard-neck develop a single row of cloves while soft-neck develop a less organized grouping), the climate (hard-neck are best for cool climates and soft-neck are best for warm climates), and the development of garlic scapes (only hard-neck will develop scapes). Garlic scapes are the long, curly shoots sent from the top of the garlic leaves to hold the garlic flower.
Garlic Scapes!
Harvest:
If you have hard-neck garlic in your garden, scapes will begin forming around early June. Once the scape has curled and before the bud opens into a flower, cut or snap the scape off of the top of the garlic stalk. This helps redirect energy from flower production to bulb formation.
Garlic greens should begin to turn brown and droop before harvest, but the foliage should not be allowed to die back completely. The first week of July is the ideal time to harvest your garlic.
Use a hand-spade or digging fork to loosen the soil around the garlic bulb. Stick the spade into the ground 6 inches away from the garlic and then pull the handle towards you. Don’t try to dig the bulb out as you will likely cut into it.
End of the harvest:
Once garlic has been harvested, it will not grow back. If left in the ground to long, it will bolt (flower) and get tough.
Storage and handling:
Brush off soil, do not was and do not remove stalk or paper until you are ready to use the garlic.
For short term storage, place garlic bulbs in a dry place at room temperature.
For long term storage, garlic must be “cured.” Hang garlic by the stem or lay it out in a warm (70-80 degree F), well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight for at least 2 weeks or until the stalk is hard and dry. At this point you can trim off the stalk or keep it on. (Braiding and hanging soft-necked garlic is an effective and beautiful storage option!)
Store cured garlic in a dark, cool, and well ventilated place. Cured soft-neck garlic can be stored for 6-8 months while hard-necked garlic will keep for 2-4 months.
Recipe ideas:
Garlic scapes are a tasty and novel treat! Check out our blog post for more info about them and try roasting, grilling, or pickling scapes!