I just cut the flowers off the onions and let them grow until harvest time. They still make bulbs here. I don't know what onions do in other parts of the world.
You can harvest onions anytime. If you want dry onions in the fall you have to let them grow until the tops fall over.
- stella1751
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Gix, those are lovely! Thanks. I definitely have none of those scapes, just a few 2' flat spikes on each one, widening at the base to what looks like an onion, only I know it's garlic. They look frail, but over the past few months they've withstood some gale-force winds, a spot of hail, and two snows, so they are clearly tougher than they look.
What's next? If they don't bolt (I.e., make a flower, which was what I thought they were going to do), do they now make scapes, which I cut off?
DoubleDogFarm wrote, "Only cut the scapes off. Just don't allow more than two loops. They will continue to form bulbs. Harvest your garlic after about 40% of the plant has browned." What happens if I allow them to double-loop? Do they bolt?
DoubleDogFarm, you also wrote that you will sell your scapes at the Farmer's Market, so I am assuming people like these. Does everyone, as does TZ-OHZ, eat them "sauteed in butter and olive oil"?
Sorry to ask so many questions. I shoved some cloves in frozen sod after reading a Jal-UT post last fall, and no one was more amazed than I when every clove but one, which wound up lying on top of the bed, produced. Now I don't know what to do with them. I give most of my produce to the church, but I'm betting even the nuns don't know what a scape is, so I might be stuck with these
Embarrassing postscript: I thought they would flower, so I put them out next to the street so passersby could enjoy their beauty . . .
What's next? If they don't bolt (I.e., make a flower, which was what I thought they were going to do), do they now make scapes, which I cut off?
DoubleDogFarm wrote, "Only cut the scapes off. Just don't allow more than two loops. They will continue to form bulbs. Harvest your garlic after about 40% of the plant has browned." What happens if I allow them to double-loop? Do they bolt?
DoubleDogFarm, you also wrote that you will sell your scapes at the Farmer's Market, so I am assuming people like these. Does everyone, as does TZ-OHZ, eat them "sauteed in butter and olive oil"?
Sorry to ask so many questions. I shoved some cloves in frozen sod after reading a Jal-UT post last fall, and no one was more amazed than I when every clove but one, which wound up lying on top of the bed, produced. Now I don't know what to do with them. I give most of my produce to the church, but I'm betting even the nuns don't know what a scape is, so I might be stuck with these
Embarrassing postscript: I thought they would flower, so I put them out next to the street so passersby could enjoy their beauty . . .
- jal_ut
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[img]https://donce.lofthouse.com/jamaica/onions_08.jpg[/img]
gix, these are onions from last year. The photo was taken mid August. As you can see the onion bulb forms about half out of the ground. These are almost ready for harvest, but I let them go for a while so the tops will start to dry up. If you pick them with green growing tops, the bulbs won't store as well.
gix, these are onions from last year. The photo was taken mid August. As you can see the onion bulb forms about half out of the ground. These are almost ready for harvest, but I let them go for a while so the tops will start to dry up. If you pick them with green growing tops, the bulbs won't store as well.
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I learned something about scapes this evening. Apparently they are only produced on hardneck garlic. I only grow Music, a hardneck garlic.
I allow two loops on the scapes, then I harvest the scape. Allow the rest of the plant to form a nice big bulb. Hopefully
Some information and recipes for scapes here:
https://www.moscowfood.coop/archive/scape.html
I allow two loops on the scapes, then I harvest the scape. Allow the rest of the plant to form a nice big bulb. Hopefully
Some information and recipes for scapes here:
https://www.moscowfood.coop/archive/scape.html
- applestar
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Jal, those elephant garlic flowers look like candidates for my Front Yard Edible Landscaping Project! Getting some this Fall to plant
BTW I found one of the Egyptian onions when I was comparing scapes -- I.e. I was walking around looking at all the onions, chives, and garlic to see which ones have scapes and which ones don't and are likely to bulb well.
BTW I found one of the Egyptian onions when I was comparing scapes -- I.e. I was walking around looking at all the onions, chives, and garlic to see which ones have scapes and which ones don't and are likely to bulb well.
I don't think mine would have made two loops. They bent over and tried to loop but seemed too heavy.... maybe from a top dressing of nitrogen I put on because of yellow leaf tips. Anyway, they were big and I wanted to get them off so more energy would go to the bulbs. I still have a bunch out there from a later planting that are about ready for thecook pot.
After a search for garlic scape recipes on google it seems a lot of people get excited about scape pesto. I tried it, but am not a fan of pestos in general so I won't be making it again.
After a search for garlic scape recipes on google it seems a lot of people get excited about scape pesto. I tried it, but am not a fan of pestos in general so I won't be making it again.
- gixxerific
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- jal_ut
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Good luck. What I can suggest is full sun, fertile soil, plant early, like early April, maybe even late March. Plant sets and space them 5 to 6 inches. Plant long day onions for your location.
An alternative on the spacing is to plant 3 inches apart then when they are just right for green onions pull every other one. I planted some onion seed this year and very soon I am going to have lots of green onions. Those new little green onions are so good. I like the Egyptian Walking onions for green onions too. I plant the bulbils in the fall. By June you have all the green onions you can use.
An alternative on the spacing is to plant 3 inches apart then when they are just right for green onions pull every other one. I planted some onion seed this year and very soon I am going to have lots of green onions. Those new little green onions are so good. I like the Egyptian Walking onions for green onions too. I plant the bulbils in the fall. By June you have all the green onions you can use.
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Here are some pictures of my garlic. I've decide not to wait for two loops. Will be harvesting the scapes Friday evening or Saturday morning. Selling at the Farmers Market.
Today June 15th 2010
Galic row.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Garlic%20June%2015th%202010/DSC02299.jpg[/img]
Scapes.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Garlic%20June%2015th%202010/DSC02300.jpg[/img]
Bulb starting to form.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Garlic%20June%2015th%202010/DSC02303.jpg[/img]
Today June 15th 2010
Galic row.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Garlic%20June%2015th%202010/DSC02299.jpg[/img]
Scapes.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Garlic%20June%2015th%202010/DSC02300.jpg[/img]
Bulb starting to form.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Garlic%20June%2015th%202010/DSC02303.jpg[/img]
- stella1751
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- applestar
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Alright DD. I'm sold on Melody garlic as well. Do they ALWAYS scape? Not all of mine are -- The ones I'm growing are NY White and German Pink which are supposed to be well adapted to NY and presumably NJ region.
I'll have to research Melody and see if I have good chance of success with them. Definitely another candidate for my FRont Yard Edible Landscaping Project.
I'll have to research Melody and see if I have good chance of success with them. Definitely another candidate for my FRont Yard Edible Landscaping Project.
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- gixxerific
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