When to Cut Garlic Scapes in Canada
The curl signal, why cutting scapes gives bigger bulbs, and the usual scape weeks from coastal BC to the Prairies and the Maritimes.
When to cut garlic scapes is easy to see: cut them just after the stalk has curled and before it straightens back up. That moment comes in late May on the BC coast and in late June on the Prairies.
Only hardneck garlic makes scapes. Ontario’s garlic factsheet says research has shown that leaving the scape on can cut bulb yield by as much as 30%, because the plant puts its energy into the bulbils at the tip instead of the bulb underground.
Garlic scapes at a glance: Cut when the scape has curled, before it straightens. Coastal BC and southern Ontario: late May to mid-June. BC Interior and the Maritimes: early to mid-June. Ottawa and Montreal: mid-June. Prairies and Newfoundland: late June. Leaving scapes on can cut bulb yield by up to 30%.
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Growing hardneck garlic? See Growing Garlic in Canada for the whole year, from fall planting to curing.
Garlic Scape Dates by Region
A warm spring brings scapes up a week early; a cold one, a week late. Use the dates to start watching, then go by the curl.
| Region | Usual Scape Weeks | Bulb Harvest Follows |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal BC (Victoria, Vancouver) | Late May–mid June | Late June–mid July |
| Southern Ontario (Toronto, Windsor) | Late May–mid June | Late June–mid July |
| BC Interior (Kelowna, Kamloops) | Early–mid June | Mid–late July |
| Maritimes (Halifax, Saint John, Charlottetown) | Early–mid June | Early–late July |
| Ottawa and Montreal | Mid June | Mid–late July |
| Prairies (Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg) | Late June | Late July–mid August |
| Newfoundland (St. John’s, Corner Brook) | Late June | Late July–early August |
The Curl Signal
Ontario’s factsheet says to remove scapes by pulling, breaking or cutting just after curling but before they straighten out. Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture likewise advises removing the scape early in its development, noting the yield gain is greatest in northern climates, and adds that there is some suggestion that cutting very early may make bulbs store less well.
So do not take scapes the day they appear. Wait for the loop, then cut just above the top leaf.
Why It Gives Bigger Bulbs
A scape ends in a capsule of tiny aerial cloves called bulbils. Left on, the plant spends its energy filling them. Cut off, that energy goes to the bulb. Ontario’s factsheet reports bulb yield losses of up to 30% when scapes are left on.
The exception is a plant you want bulbils from. Ontario’s factsheet notes some growers plant bulbils to build up clean planting stock, though it takes several years to grow full-size bulbs from them.
Using Garlic Scapes
Scapes taste like mild garlic with a green-onion crunch. Cook them fresh in stir-fries, on the grill or chopped into eggs, or use them raw in small amounts.
An Earlier Cut, and the Bulbils
The University of Saskatchewan advises cutting a little earlier: while the scape is young and tender and just starting to thicken. It cites research from the University of Maine showing that scapes left on reduce the size of the harvested bulb.
If scapes are left on, they form a cluster of tiny bulbils. The University of Saskatchewan says these can be planted in fall, close together. They grow into simple rounds the next year and take a couple of years to become fully cloved bulbs.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I cut garlic scapes?
Just after the scape has curled and before it straightens out. That is the guidance in Ontario's garlic factsheet. In most of Canada it falls between late May and late June.
Does cutting garlic scapes make bigger bulbs?
Yes. Ontario's garlic factsheet says research has shown that leaving scapes on can reduce bulb yield by as much as 30 percent, because the plant puts energy into the bulbils instead of the bulb.
When are garlic scapes ready on the Prairies?
Usually late June in Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg. Watch for the curl rather than the date.
Can I cut garlic scapes too early?
Possibly. Saskatchewan's Ministry of Agriculture recommends removing scapes early in their development but notes some suggestion that cutting too early may make bulbs store poorly. Waiting for the curl is a safe middle point.
Does softneck garlic have scapes?
No. Only hardneck garlic sends up a scape. Softneck varieties do not, which is one reason they are often braided.
How long after cutting scapes is garlic ready?
Usually about three to five weeks. Lift when about a third to a half of the leaves have died back.
Sources
- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness — Garlic production factsheet
- Government of Saskatchewan, Ministry of Agriculture — Garlic
- University of Saskatchewan, Gardening at USask — Garlic