When Are Garlic Scapes In Season

If you grow hardneck garlic or shop at farmers markets, you’ve probably wondered when are garlic scapes in season. Their brief appearance is a true sign of early summer, and knowing their peak time helps you plan your cooking and preserving. This guide will walk you through everything about their seasonal availability, from the garden to the market.

Garlic scapes have a very specific and relatively short season. For most temperate climates in the Northern Hemisphere, the prime harvesting period runs from late spring to early summer. You can typically expect to find them from late May through July, with the exact timing shifting based on your local climate and weather patterns that year.

In warmer regions, scapes may appear as early as mid-May. In cooler, northern areas, you might not see them until late June or even early July. The season itself is fleeting, often lasting only 3 to 4 weeks for any given patch of garlic.

What Exactly Are Garlic Scapes?

Before we get into the calendar, let’s clarify what you’re looking for. A garlic scape is the flower stalk that hardneck garlic plants produce. The plant sends up this curly, green shoot from the center of its leaves. If left unharvested, it would eventually bloom, but gardeners remove it for two key reasons:

It directs the plant’s energy back into forming a larger, more robust garlic bulb underground.
The scape itself is a delicious and versatile vegetable you can eat!

They have a mild garlic flavor that’s fresher and greener than a clove, with a texture similar to asparagus or green beans when cooked.

The Garlic Scape Harvest Timeline

The season follows the natural growth cycle of hardneck garlic. Here’s a typical timeline from planting to scape harvest:

Fall Planting: Cloves are planted in October or November.
Spring Growth: Green shoots emerge as soon as the ground thaws.
Scape Emergence (Late Spring): In May or June, the central stalk forms a loop or curl.
Prime Harvest Window: You should harvest scapes when they have made one or two full loops but before they straighten to flower. This is when they are most tender.
Bulb Maturation: After scape removal, the plant focuses on bulb development for a mid-to-late summer harvest.

Regional Variations in Availability

Your location dramatically impacts when scapes are ready. Here’s a rough guide:

Southern U.S. (Zones 7-9): Scapes can be ready by early to mid-May.
Midwest & Northeast U.S. (Zones 5-6): Expect peak availability in June.
Pacific Northwest (Zones 7-8): Season often aligns with June.
Canada & Northern U.S. (Zones 3-4): Harvest typically happens in late June or July.

A cool, wet spring can delay growth, while an unusually warm spring might accelerate it. It’s always best to watch your local plants or talk to your farmer.

How to Find and Select the Best Scapes

Since they’re not common in most supermarkets, knowing where to look is key. Your best bet is a local farmers market or a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share. Some specialty grocers may carry them briefly.

When selecting scapes, look for these signs of freshness and quality:

Bright Green Color: They should look vibrant, not dull or yellowish.
Firm Texture: They should snap easily, not bend limply.
Tight Curls: The bud at the end should be closed and firm. Avoid scapes with a bulging or flowering bud.
No Wilting: The stems should be crisp, not rubbery or wilted.

How to Harvest Your Own Scapes

If you grow hardneck garlic, harvesting scapes is simple. The best method is to snap or cut them off where they meet the topmost leaf. Use your fingers to snap them, or use clean garden shears.

Check your plants daily once you see the curly stalk forming.
Wait until the scape has completed at least one full loop.
Grab the stem just below the bulbous pod and snap it off sideways. It should break cleanly.
If it’s stubborn, use shears to avoid damaging the plant.

Harvesting them all at once is not recommended. Check plants every few days, as they mature at slightly different rates even in the same bed.

Storing and Preserving Your Harvest

The season is short, but you can extend your enjoyment. Here’s how to keep them fresh and preserve them for later use.

Short-Term Storage (up to 2 weeks):

Place unwashed scapes in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator.
You can also stand them in a jar with an inch of water, like a bouquet, and cover loosely with a bag.

Long-Term Preservation Methods:

Freezing: Chop scapes into desired sizes. Blanch for 2 minutes, then plunge into ice water. Drain thoroughly and freeze in a single layer on a tray before transferring to freezer bags.
Making Pesto: Garlic scape pesto freezes exceptionally well. Portion it into ice cube trays for easy use.
Pickling: Pickled scapes make a fantastic tangy condiment. They add great flavor to salads and cheese boards.
Dehydrating: Dry chopped scapes and grind them into a unique garlic powder.

Simple Ways to Use Garlic Scapes in the Kitchen

Their mild garlic flavor works in many dishes. You can use them raw or cooked. Here are some easy ideas to get you started:

Chopped Raw: Finely chop and add to salads, salsas, or dressings for a mild bite.
Sautéed or Grilled: Cook them whole like asparagus. They’re excellent with a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Stir-Fries: Slice into inch-long pieces and add to any stir-fry in the last few minutes of cooking.
Soups and Frittatas: Chop and use as you would green onions or chives.
Compound Butter: Blend minced scapes into softened butter, then roll into a log and chill. Perfect for steaks or bread.

Remember, the smaller, more tender scapes are great raw, while larger ones benefit from cooking to soften their texture.

Why You Won’t Find Scapes Year-Round

Garlic scapes are a true seasonal specialty. Unlike garlic bulbs, which store for months, scapes are highly perishable. Their tender, green nature means they have a short shelf life. Commercial farming of softneck garlic (the common grocery store variety) does not produce scapes at all. Only hardneck varieties yield them, and their formation is tied directly to the plant’s pre-flowering stage, which happens once a year.

This limited availability is what makes them such a prized find at the market. They are a vegetable that truly connects you to the current moment in the growing season.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What month are garlic scapes harvested?

They are most commonly harvested in June for many regions. In warmer areas, harvest may begin in May; in cooler areas, it can extend into July.

Can you get garlic scapes in the fall?

No, garlic scapes are strictly a late spring/early summer product. They are part of the garlic plant’s natural flowering cycle, which occurs before the summer bulb harvest.

Are garlic scapes available at grocery stores?

It’s rare, but some higher-end or specialty grocery stores might carry them during the peak of their short season. Farmers markets and CSAs are far more reliable sources.

What’s the difference between a garlic scape and green garlic?

They are different parts of the plant. A scape is the flower stalk. Green garlic is the immature whole garlic plant, harvested before the bulb forms, and looks like a thick green onion. Their flavors and uses are distinct.

Do all garlic plants produce scapes?

No. Only hardneck garlic (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon) produces the true, curly scape. The more common softneck garlic (found in braids) does not, though it may produce a different, non-woody central stalk.

How long after scapes are harvested is the garlic ready?

After you remove the scapes, the garlic bulbs typically need another 4 to 6 weeks in the ground to fully mature and be ready for harvest.

Knowing when are garlic scapes in season allows you to make the most of their unique flavor. Keep an eye on your local growing zone and market signs in late spring. With this guide, you’ll be ready to spot, harvest, store, and enjoy this delicious seasonal treat at its absolute best. Their brief appearance is a wonderful reminder to savor the unique flavors each part of the growing season offers.