Don't Wait to Pull Your Scapes

This video is more than just "when you pull your garden scapes"--it's the time to pull your scapes is now! According to research, pulling garlic scapes leads to bigger bulbs. I give some tips on how to pull garlic scapes and some tips for using them.
Also in this video: What are garlic scapes? How to use garlic scapes. And lots of other scapey-ness.
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Resources:
Scape removal yield benefits: www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/c...
Delayed Scape Removal and Storage: atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/xmlui/...

[@notillgrowers]

"Gwelf." Got it. Thanks!🤘🏻

[@MikeOxlong-]

You’re incorrect in the thought hat water could “rot” out the bulb by pulling out the entire stem of the scape. In fact, most Ukrainian villagers who basically ALL homestead out of necessity have been doing it in the following manner for centuries and only producing the best results. You actually start by pinching the bottom of the stem about an inch above the first set of “leaves” using your nails until you hear it crack, and then rotate your hand a quarter turn and pinch the stem again to crack it from the other angle (so you’ve basically snapped a square shape visually). Then simply pull the entire scape like you do, however if you snapped it properly at the bottom, it’ll come out with zero hesitation whatsoever. This is the most widely used method by actual people who know a thing or two about growing anything, and have passed on/down this to each generation along the way…

[@angelinadegelder7722]

​@@MikeOxlong-interesting thanks for sharing

[@groussac]

@@MikeOxlong- Thanks Mike. Very similar to what my Korean and Chinese friends do. They use a toothpick or something similar to loosen the sheath around the scape before pulling out the scape. I like your method better. Seems to me you would get more of the tasty white scape stem. The toothpick method, and the white scape stem breaks. Scapes are coming in right now (5/24/2024, Iowa Zone 5), so I'll give the Ukrainian method a try...

[@MrTRAce-by1sv]

My grandmother grew garlic every year, basic old school growing- and nothing scientific but she taught me to wait til the scape made a full loop then cut it about 1” above the top leaves. -Interesting to see how you pull your garlic scape vs cutting it, thanks for the awesome video. FYI it’s “university of Guelph” (Gwell-f)

[@alwoods9977]

Useful information. Thanks. My garlic scapes haven't appeared yet, but I will be ready when they do. BTW, U of Guelph (pronounced Gwelf) is in Guelph, Ontario, about 90 minutes northwest of Toronto. U of Guelph started as an agricultural college and retains a strong legacy in agricultural research.

[@martindonald7613]

The University of Guelph, where my wife and I both went in the 80's is about an hour and a half west of Toronto. They do a huge amount of Agricultural research.

[@HASHHASSIN]

I paues video and ran my garden :) never heard of this tips.. pulled out one by one.. collected almost 2 lbs fresh scapes.. asked neighbors, they didn't hear this before :) Thank You Brother!

[@notillgrowers]

Nice!

[@primitivefarmers2832]

me too!

[@angeloangelilli7976]

Awesome. I come from garlic country in Abruzzo italy. I grow the red garlic of Sulmona. Your right on on all you posted . great work

[@staceymunro4697]

I harvest my scapes with a bag lined milk crate. As you fill the crate you can easily change out for another bag and leave your harvest at the end of the rows. Will go much faster than your pouch.😊

[@joompah7]

Jesse this made my morning. You and Josh are doing such a great job on all the media stuff.... I still love your scatterbrained and unpolished presentations (and I mean that in the most loving way! SQUIRREL!.....) This content is a joy to watch and listen and learn from. And I love these short little videos too! Short and Sweet and SQUIRREL!.......

[@RussellBallestrini]

Hey friend, I have about 300 garlic plants this year, I always try to pull my scapes early just like you. I've been scaling up my crop from just a few heads about 6 years ago. I love how my yeild is exponentially growing year over year, Im glad to always have garlic to fill in the voids in the garden. Fall planted. I'm in Connecticut Zone 6B

[@marleneleeson5475]

Thanks for sharing...great video. By the way, it's the University of Guelph, which is north-west of Toronto, Ontario. Cheers from Canada!

[@firedog759]

LOL youtube says you posted a new video, and i get this, with 1 year old comments.... it was worth it..

[@sunalwaysshinesonTVs]

There are 2 responses (both very Toronto): 1. Guelph is in Guelph or 2. It's all (always about) Toronto, so you were correct.

[@davec1117]

I'm in Hamilton close enough to cycle to Guelph or Toronto so i get Toronto. Talk to anyone outside of Canada and if they only know one place in Canada they'll have heard of Toronto so of course you use Trawna as the reference point.

[@bencuthbert8915]

I've always been told not pulling your scapes also effects long term storage of the bulb. Super tasty sautéed' alongside a steak too. Would love to see a followup on how you dry and store them too Jesse. I usually just hang them in my shed but have seen some pretty great drying rack setups too!

[@notillgrowers]

Indeed! Planning a more comprehensive garlic harvesting video. We usually do the drying rack but want to compare it to hanging this year.

[@SaltydogNC]

Awesome research. I have always pulled mine early, but then kept hearing people talk about waiting until they curl, so I thought next year I would try going longer. I'll be scrapping that idea and sticking with my early pull. Thanks!

[@Taylor-KY3G]

Great video. I pulled mine this last weekend so it was nice to see you affirm my decision! Thanks for everything you do.

[@melodytime9189]

I always learn so much from you. Thabk you for much for giving your knowledge!!

[@lolaseymour1532]

Thanks for the timely information! A delight to see the young farmer in the field.

[@trillium7582]

Jesse, this is a great, great video. I'd love to see more content like this, that shares ag research on a practical market garden/small farm scale. Also loved the tips about the specifics of harvesting, pulling twice and picking, making sure you're gathering multiple scapes before you drop them in the pouch. Just agog at the value shared in this video, thank you!

[@notillgrowers]

Super awesome to hear! Thank you

[@coombabaykelpiesltf5494]

That Garlic is spectacular! Great vlog! Thanks Mate :)

[@brownout76]

Thank u!! Perfect timing for me!

[@B30pt87]

Great video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@milesjeff1]

Literally, right on time....I have a few scales poppin....I love tender scapes

[@mylesfalconer9183]

I love garlic and I love no-till grower's channel! Pickled scapes (chopped) are great in fresh and canned salsa too. I also freeze them to go in soups throughout the year.

[@EDLaw-wo5it]

Scapes taste wonderful anyway you eat the. Great video Jesse. Now I know when to harvest. Havagudun Mr. Gardener.

[@WhatWeDoChannel]

Thanks for that, I’m going to pull my scapes sooner this year! The University of Guelph is pronounced Gwelf. Guelph is a town about an hour west of Toronto. That thing about pulling twice and snapping is something I can’t wait to try!

[@rubytuby6369]

I like to leave the scapes on some of them to become bulblets to plant. They turn into wonderful little rounds. They are about the size of a nickel or a quarter , and very tasty.

[@TimeSurfer206]

I planted a few (dozen) of the green onions that get lost in the back of the fridge over the winter. They took off like Gangsters, and are starting to flower. I'm letting this batch go, "For SCIENCE!" And seeds.

[@candiwallace6605]

My favorite part of the plant🔥🥰❤🌱

[@gudgengrebe]

Great to watch your videos. You are very interesting, thank you. I enjoy your videos for the often unusual facts you come up with and I love your sense of humour … oh and the frequent mention of actual studies! So many things to like about your channel. Thank you very much for making such informative and enjoyable vids. All the best from Suffolk UK.

[@carissalizotte8977]

Gosh I needed this video… so many people say you shouldn’t pull scapes before they curl… for me, they are too woody at that point! But I didn’t want to cut the scapes too early if it effected the bulb… confusing but

[@parkerbender09]

Very detailed and informative

[@bryanvagenos5089]

I grew hard neck garlic for the first time this year and pulled the scapes. They are delicious. It is almost time to harvest the garlic itself. So for a family farm it is two harvests. Very cool. I cut mine but I will be pulling next year.

[@EarlybirdFarmSC]

Great minds think alike. I just did a video on this yesterday. Your garlic is looking awesome Jesse. Looks like you are going to have a great harvest this year!

[@notillgrowers]

Oh awesome!

[@EarlybirdFarmSC]

@@notillgrowers Thanks.

[@quantafitness6088]

Hardneck garlic has to be one of the best crops to grow. Several harvests and so versatile in the kitchen.

[@mariabentele7909]

You make great videos, love the music.

[@lenamccown5442]

Thanks. Good to know.

[@kubaistube]

My local seed garlic grower claims the less of the scape you take the better, meaning just pop it right under the scape head (future seed head) and like that the long scape works as another leaf for the plant.

[@angelinadegelder7722]

Interesting

[@sigmapge1398]

Beautiful field of garlic!

[@robertduklus6555]

University of Guelph is in Guelph Ontario Canada.

[@Brisbanesdaddy]

Great video! When do you harvest (timewise) the garlic after pulling the scapes? Thank you

[@nancymathisen9707]

I need to put my headlamp on right now and run out to pull my scapes!

[@did_I_hurt_you_feefees]

Thank you.

[@RKOuttathebox]

Great time to stumble on this video, thanks KZbin algorithm!

[@captainfecc2526]

That is a very interesting topic. I'd like to grow garlic in the future, I know a few things about it but this was new. Thank you for the information! It would be great to see a video about garlic from seed to harvest, and how to store it from your point of view.

[@notillgrowers]

Awesome! Indeed. I did a video about garlic last year, but I didn't love it so I'm going to update that one this year and involve more research. So be on the lookout for that one!

[@captainfecc2526]

@@notillgrowers I'll check it out for sure!

[@florule1124]

Good video !

[@DerrekWayne]

Good stuff thanks!

[@2ndSprings]

Great content. Groovy music.

[@learningallthetimes7655]

Hey Jesse great video thanks! What do plant after you harvest your garlic thanks!!

[@karenbuckner2676]

Can you share your recipe for lacto-fermented scapes w peppers? Thanks! Love your channel - great content.

[@grounded7362]

I do not pull the scapes but rather cut them with my tomato pruning shears as close to where they come out past the leaves and don't ever recall seeing the scape stem continue to grow. I have has one regrow a new scape but only saw that happen one time.

[@lastharvest4044]

Crush your garlic 5 mins before eating, it'll convert more allinin to allicin and have more smell/health benefits.

[@gertzadik]

You know your stuff!!!!

[@cb-tc9lw]

University of Guelph is a great agricultural resource. Guelph is a city about an hour west of Toronto.

[@emilyclaireify]

Ya Guelph! Would love to hear you speak at the Organic Conference at the U of G one day !!

[@cherylbertolini3140]

Great video thanks for the information, I would wait for it to curl not this year:)

[@pierrehamel1]

I love lacto-fermented scapes but cloves are the best! I do the former when fresh and the latter around early December before the sprouting begins. Easiest way for both is to pack Mason jar (I use 500 ml), leaving space for weight to keep them below surface of liquid, and top up with iodine-free sea-salted (chlorine free) water (I mix 2Tbsp in 1 liter water). I use flat-ish rocks or glass "pucks" as weights. Close jars loosely. Leave at room temp and check daily (loosen even more if need be to make sure gas is escaping- you'll see the bubbles rise). Transfer to fridge after 5 to 7 days (you can taste test or just go with observation). Keeps easily 6 months but probably quite a bit longer. Some may turn greenish blue; this is not a problem (read up about it!). The taste will be pickle-y. This is our third year lacto-fermenting...a great way to store some of our garden produce....and yes, we added a second refrigerator.

[@steveandtedssmallspacegard8587]

Could any one else smell garlic while watching this video, is smellervision real lol

[@gabrielhickman3908]

Frfr

[@mcdart2606]

🤭

[@mrstoneybrew]

Id love to see that lacto fermentation process!

[@victoriam.weathers8490]

I’m helping someone that is new to growing garlic and was curious if you had any names of buyers for your bulbs? We are growing Georgian Crystal, Purple Polaski, and Ivan. I believe we have a buyer for this year but wanted to look at other options and seeing if maybe you could help guide me. We have two crops one is organic and the other was accidentally fertilized with a fish meal that wasn’t organic so we just replanted the stuff from last year there. (The new stuff is in a totally different location way more than 50ft away) But we are all kind of learning here so any tips is so helpful! Thanks and I hope you are having a good holiday season!

[@mroakarm]

Last year i purchased a couple dozen bulbs of garlic seed from a local grower. They were the biggest bulbs i have personally seen...3.5"+ in size. He sold the entire dried out plant with the bulb still attached and I noticed he never cut any of the scapes off any of his plants. I was shocked. I cut my scapes off always but I sometime think about how much bigger those bulbs might of been had he cut the scapes off?

[@hummingbirdforestgardens]

interesting! Will pull mine earlier this year - garlic pesto sooner?? No problem! :)

[@WideCuriosity]

In my limited experience, it's not so much that it's tender when harvested early, it's the other side of the coin. It's far too tough & stringy harvested later. You can cook them as much as you like but it'll be an appalling mouth feel, tough, stringy, and probably removed from your mouth and left on the edge of the plate when your meal's finished. Edit: based on this video, I also tried pulling them off this year. Very bad idea. First one I tried didn't want to come; then the whole plant lifted ! Probably messed that one up now. One can snap the more tender younger scapes, but many don't like snapping either and split, and show how stringy the scape has become. I will go back to using secateurs next year.

[@Tony-md7dk]

The best pesto! I make it with pistachio.

[@Barbaralee1205]

Can you talk about what to do with all the “babies “ hanging on the garlic bulb? I’m a first timer and my beautiful big white bulbs had lots of little brownish baby bulbs around the bottom. Plant? Throw out? Use?

[@tonytwobins4964]

On it dude from sunny Yorkshire England. They have just started ..Spanish...but not the French type .

[@lanettelawrence6308]

I am growing garlic for the first time , I did not pull anyvSCAPES, I will cut some tomorrow. This is my first time growing garlic. I cook pizza and wished I knew about garlic scapes sooner but now I do.

[@primitivefarmers2832]

any recipes/uses after you pull them and how to store them

[@cofoothills]

I pulled the scapes on my elephant garlic and upon harvesting, I found "lumps" at the base of the stalk which turned out to be the garlic putting its seed just above the bulb. They were bound and determined to reproduce, scapes or not.

[@jakewood4329]

Hell yah 20-30%is a lot of anything!

[@ionpunk341]

University of Guelph is in Guelph, Ontario (Gwelf) - not too far from Toronto though

[@kingjames4886]

makes sense... idk why I've been waiting until they curl.

[@valjalava1951]

I don’t seem to have many scapes this year on my garlic,and when is it ready for harvest we wait till leaves start to turn yellow on the bottom

[@wildedibles819]

I leave the scapes on my wild garlic to maximize seeds These seeds take two years but you can spread it more I get small bulbs but get more going in the long run Then i can pick the scapes like i do with my farmers market garlic Great way to explain this early is best but it can get away on you lol

[@wildedibles819]

The scape will dry hard thats whthey call it hard neck right? Or am i confused lol It can split apart if you leave the scape on so it dries out good making long storage in property but dried out falling apart into single clves is better for planting not eating really but !?

[@davidmanuel9098]

Does anyone know where I can find Jesse's content on growing garlic with austrian winter peas? TIA

[@s18169ex3]

The university that you mention is in Ontario Canada

[@BeastlyBen007]

What do I do if my smaller bulb doesn't grow a scape? The stalk seems thin but it should be close to ready? Do I just pull it out of the ground anyways?

[@chriskimber7179]

Scapes are ready so I re-watched this great video! Gonna try the early harvest and the pulling method Quick question, where did you get that harvest apron? It looks super useful!

[@teresa3634]

Great information. University of Guelph

[@swamp-yankee]

A couple years back I saw Karl Hammer speak. The title was something like 'molten rock coalescing into living soil' but he went into his garlic growing. He doesn't pick any scapes, and grows huge garlic. He said if the soil doesn't limit your garlic then there's no reason to pick scapes. He grows the best garlic I've ever seen. And brought in a bunch dried with the scapes attached. He also plants a lot of bulbils. I still pick mine, but I could see quitting someday if we get our soil in order. I'd expect the research didn't happen in a soil as healthy as his.

[@notillgrowers]

That title haha! I actually used to feel that same way. We've always grown pretty large, healthy garlic whether we pulled the scapes or not, but I compared the two last year (scape vs no scape) and the no scapes we're consistently bigger. It was a fairly small non-scientific trial, but compared with the research I've seen and anecdotal evidence from others I'm fairly convinced. THAT SAID, could be genetic, climatic, who knows. Biology is bonkers.

[@swamp-yankee]

@@notillgrowers I think his soil is probably about as good as it gets being that he runs VT compost, and has one of two private soil labs in the country. He was adamant that it increased yield to leave scapes because it didn't effect his bulb size, and he plants a lot of scapes that mature into small to mid sized bulbs. He also showed slides of a project he did to get rid of a waste grade of compost that was spilled in the farm roads where he made a hugelculture pasture by cutting a couple acres of woods and burying the trees. I would be interested to hear how that went. You should try getting him on the podcast. He's quite the fellow

[@notillgrowers]

I had Karl on in season one. Fascinating dude.

[@swamp-yankee]

@@notillgrowers I'll check it out, thanks

[@PF-gi9vv]

I eat the garlic scapes raw, they can be a bit hot but they are quite nice 😋

[@roberttillotson6861]

If the scape grows up after pulling it has no bad effect on size. Mine will do that and my bulbs are still massive

[@mattbaker148]

What kind of pouch is that that you are wearing? And where can I get one please

[@meganosbornharrell2769]

I watched this whole video and I have 2 garlics growing. 😂 Great video though!

[@sowingback]

Is there a better time of day to pull the scapes? I'm a first time garlic grower and have been wondering about what to do next. Thank you!

[@angelinadegelder7722]

I've read morning on a sunny day so the cut has time to dry and heal.

[@tonyaboyer5723]

wow that's a bunch of garlic! I would love to grow that. When do you pull all your garlic up? Also, when do you pull all of your crop? I was told mid to end of July is this true for you also.

[@drhoy15]

University of Guelph is in Guelph Ontario

[@jwrightgardening]

The only reason I want to grow garlic in my garden is so I can eat the scapes. Yum! 😋

[@carybradley3968]

I am fairly certain that my scape stalks continued to grow out after I pulled them. Weird. Will check next year to see if I’m nuts. :)

[@blenderbenderguy]

Mine always continue to grow a couple inches. It seems the earlier I pull them, the longer they continue to grow.

[@j.hueston4370]

University of Guelph (gwelf) just west of Toronto near Waterloo.

[@urbanfarmhouseltd2517]

How do we get a no till hat?

[@jamesewanchook2276]

Thanks, garlic has to be the easiest high yield crop to grow.

[@bradabel1240]

Garlic looks great. Are you in Canada or the US.

[@notillgrowers]

Us, zone 6b, KY

[@codysaunders7348]

University of Guelph: Gwwwelf!! lol

[@lrrpdude8694]

Cut my scapes before they curled, 3-4 weeks later every plant now has 2 smaller scapes. Anyone experience this?

[@humblehalfacre8464]

I snap or cut my garlic scapes. If you pull the whole scape stalk it will leave a hole at the top of the top leaf..... leaving your garlic vulnerable to disease.

[@gothooked]

Can you dehydrate those and make them garlic powder?

[@notillgrowers]

Almost certainly if they’re tender!

[@SgtSnausages]

Garlic Scape Butter!!

[@knowyuhgrow420]

Thanks for sharing I think we made a mistake

[@angelinadegelder7722]

Shoulder height garlic?! 😮

[@rrbb36]

It’s pronounced similar to the girls’ name ”Allison”, so “allicin” would be: al-li-sin. 👍

[@luclaflamme4712]

In French, garlic is named Ail ... Prononciation is like the pronoun I

[@rrbb36]

@@luclaflamme4712 That’s interesting, merci beaucoup. However, I was commenting in English about the English pronunciation which I thought was rather self evident.👍

[@luclaflamme4712]

@@rrbb36 Yep I got that , just though a little anecdotal roman Latin language intervention would be fun :-)

[@rrbb36]

@@luclaflamme4712 So I’m thinking you’re probably a native French speaker. Would I be correct? And do you currently live in a French speaking nation?

[@luclaflamme4712]

@@rrbb36 Yes indeed , I'm French Canadian

[@jameshajdukiewicz8602]

university of guelph not gulf (north of toronto) the e is not silent

[@notillgrowers]

Phonetically gu-elf then?

[@vegout4085]

@@notillgrowers gwelf

[@peter9477]

@@vegout4085 As a native Guelphite, I confirm your pronunciation. And yes, we are called Guelphites. Go figure. :-) (But it's west of Toronto, not north.)