Garlic Scapes
A brief 2–3 week season in early summer — mild, fresh garlic flavour in a tender green curl.
Store in
Fridge or upright in water on the counter
Keeps for
2–3 weeks surprisingly sturdy for a delicate crop
Best eaten
As pesto or grilled whole — one of summer's treats
Prep tip
Whole is fine no peeling — just trim the dried tip
What It Is
Section titled “What It Is”Garlic scapes are the curly, bright green flower shoots that emerge from hardneck garlic plants in early summer — typically a brief 2–3 week window in June at Cold Springs Organics. We harvest them to redirect the plant’s energy back into the bulb. Long, slender, and vivid green with a rounded tip, they taste like mild, fresh garlic and are one of the most fleeting and beloved crops of the season. Members who discover them rarely forget to use them.
Watch the Video
Section titled “Watch the Video”Download the Guide
Section titled “Download the Guide”How to Store It
Section titled “How to Store It”Refrigerate in a loosely sealed bag or container in the crisper; scapes keep for 2–3 weeks and are surprisingly sturdy. They can also be stored upright in a glass of water on the counter for several days, like flowers. Scapes freeze well — chop into pieces and freeze flat in a bag for use in winter soups and stir-fries.
How to Prep It
Section titled “How to Prep It”Rinse under cold water. Trim any dry or tough tip at the very end — the dried flower bud cap if present. The entire scape is edible and no peeling is needed. Cut into pieces, slice thin, chop roughly, or leave whole for grilling and roasting. Very long scapes have a slightly fibrous texture; cutting them smaller helps with even cooking.
How to Cook It
Section titled “How to Cook It”- Pesto — blend whole scapes in a food processor with olive oil, parmesan, lemon juice, and pine nuts or walnuts until smooth. Vivid green, garlicky, and excellent on pasta, bread, grilled fish, or as a dip.
- Grilled whole — brush with olive oil and grill over high heat 3–4 minutes, turning once, until charred in spots and tender throughout. A perfect, barely-effort summer side.
- Stir-fried — chop into 2-inch pieces and stir-fry with other vegetables and protein over high heat; they add a mild garlic flavour without overpowering.
Quick Meal Idea
Section titled “Quick Meal Idea”Garlic scape pesto pasta — blend a large handful of scapes with 3 tablespoons of olive oil, a handful of parmesan, juice of half a lemon, and a tablespoon of walnuts until smooth. Season with salt. Toss with just-cooked pasta and a few tablespoons of pasta water to loosen. Top with extra cheese.
Related Recipes
Section titled “Related Recipes”- Pesto Variations — garlic scape pesto is one of the best things to make during scape season