anyone ever see scapes grow after being cut?

tjg911 · June 21, 2012

about 1/4 to 1/3 of my hardneck garlic plants that have had their scapes cut off low where they emerge from the plant over the past 10-18 days have started to regrow the scape. they are straight, they don't curl, they are 4" to 9" long, the average about 5". so i cut them off and some grow again. today i cut a bunch that were cut in the past and i suspect some for the 2nd time. anyone ever see this?

this year i have cut scapes a little early in that they often are at the point of being down but not quite making a circle. i wonder if that is causing them to start growing again? i have a 5' X 12' bed 6" on center so it is a forest of garlic, about 215 plants and they don't have the room to just curl, tho some do it.

tom

Father'sDaughter · June 21, 2012

If you mean just the stalk of the scape, then yes, I have had some that will continue growing a few more inches after I've snapped the scape off. I suspect it has to do with harvesting the scapes a bit too early.

fortyonenorth · June 21, 2012

They tend to regrow if you nip them a bit early. I usually wait until they begin to uncurl.

tjg911 · June 21, 2012

this year i never let most curl, if they got to an inverted U that was good enough and i cut them. some did do a full curl. some are being attacked by a fungus that is new in this area so rather than seeing them fall off or get all messed up from the fungus i just cut them.

i have such a jungle that they don't have the free space to move when they are inner bed plants, outer row plants can curl easily. if i waited i suppose they'd curl but my concern was letting them go too long, them not curling due to being restricted by the stalks and leaves of the plants around, the fungus them so i erred on the side of taking them off. i've grown garlic 6 years now and this probably the most aggressive cutting i have done.

good to see that if cut too early the scape will continue to grow. next year i'll wait longer as i have in the past.

tom

Deborah · June 22, 2012

What are scapes? What's their purpose, are they seed pods or what? Do onions get them?

raindrops27 · June 27, 2012

Debra, I believe scapes are the greens that form on top of a growing garlic bulb, which I hear people eat. I'm intrigued as I love garlic, and wish to try my hand at growing them.

TomNJ · June 27, 2012

Scapes are the curling flower stalk that emerges from the top of a garlic plant about a month before harvesting the bulbs. Picked young and sautéed or grilled they are a delicious delicacy prized by those few who know of them (see photo).

TomNJ

zorro777 · June 28, 2012

I have seen scapes regrow after cutting sometimes as much as an inch per day, just like as if the pod was still attached. I've also seen a second pod grow out from the side of a cut scape stem right near the last leaf. This year I tried cutting some of the new regrowth and eating them and they taste just like the first cut scapes.

Deborah · July 7, 2012

Thanks for explaining !

janezee · July 7, 2012

Last week, I was driving by a neighbor's house and they had a cart full of "Free Garlic." I think that they pulled them too early. I brought several home, to use in my deer spray, but left the single bulb plants out on my porch. Imagine my surprise to find them with scapes on them this week! They certainly weren't there a week ago!

j

June 21, 2012	#1
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	anyone ever see scapes grow after being cut? about 1/4 to 1/3 of my hardneck garlic plants that have had their scapes cut off low where they emerge from the plant over the past 10-18 days have started to regrow the scape. they are straight, they don't curl, they are 4" to 9" long, the average about 5". so i cut them off and some grow again. today i cut a bunch that were cut in the past and i suspect some for the 2nd time. anyone ever see this? this year i have cut scapes a little early in that they often are at the point of being down but not quite making a circle. i wonder if that is causing them to start growing again? i have a 5' X 12' bed 6" on center so it is a forest of garlic, about 215 plants and they don't have the room to just curl, tho some do it. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

June 21, 2012	#4
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	this year i never let most curl, if they got to an inverted U that was good enough and i cut them. some did do a full curl. some are being attacked by a fungus that is new in this area so rather than seeing them fall off or get all messed up from the fungus i just cut them. i have such a jungle that they don't have the free space to move when they are inner bed plants, outer row plants can curl easily. if i waited i suppose they'd curl but my concern was letting them go too long, them not curling due to being restricted by the stalks and leaves of the plants around, the fungus them so i erred on the side of taking them off. i've grown garlic 6 years now and this probably the most aggressive cutting i have done. good to see that if cut too early the scape will continue to grow. next year i'll wait longer as i have in the past. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

June 21, 2012	#2
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,917	If you mean just the stalk of the scape, then yes, I have had some that will continue growing a few more inches after I've snapped the scape off. I suspect it has to do with harvesting the scapes a bit too early.

June 21, 2012	#3
fortyonenorth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 1,150	They tend to regrow if you nip them a bit early. I usually wait until they begin to uncurl.

June 22, 2012	#5
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	What are scapes? What's their purpose, are they seed pods or what? Do onions get them?

June 27, 2012	#6
raindrops27 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: long island Posts: 327	Debra, I believe scapes are the greens that form on top of a growing garlic bulb, which I hear people eat. I'm intrigued as I love garlic, and wish to try my hand at growing them.

June 28, 2012	#8
zorro777 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: North Cent Wisconsin zone 4a Posts: 15	I have seen scapes regrow after cutting sometimes as much as an inch per day, just like as if the pod was still attached. I've also seen a second pod grow out from the side of a cut scape stem right near the last leaf. This year I tried cutting some of the new regrowth and eating them and they taste just like the first cut scapes.

July 7, 2012	#9
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	Thanks for explaining !

July 7, 2012	#10
janezee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Whidbey Island, WA Zone 7, Sunset 5 Posts: 931	Last week, I was driving by a neighbor's house and they had a cart full of "Free Garlic." I think that they pulled them too early. I brought several home, to use in my deer spray, but left the single bulb plants out on my porch. Imagine my surprise to find them with scapes on them this week! They certainly weren't there a week ago! j