Stiffneck Garlic - when to pinch off?

[SewingDiva]

Our stiffneck garlic is pretty tall, maybe two feet or so, and those crazy-looking twisty scapes are fully formed with the bulb-like things on the ends. How big should I let them get before I pinch them off?

~Phyllis

 

[Sarah_Mom2Four]

I'm sorry I don't know the answer but I have a question too, what is pinching off? We are growing garlic for the first time. I interested in this, thanks for posting this thread and I can't wait to see the answers!

 

[Reinbeau]

Cut those scapes right now and make garlic pesto!

Garlic Scape Pesto

Ingredients:
1 cup garlic scapes (about 8 or 9 scapes), top flowery part removed, cut into -inch slices
1/3 cup walnuts
cup olive oil
-1/2 cup grated parmigiano
teaspoon salt
black pepper to taste

Method:
Place scapes and walnuts in the bowl of a food processor and whiz until well combined and somewhat smooth. Slowly drizzle in oil and process until integrated. With a rubber spatula, scoop pesto out of bowl and into a mixing bowl. Add parmigiano to taste; add salt and pepper. Makes about 6 ounces of pesto. Keeps for up to one week in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

For pound short pasta such as penne, add about 2 tablespoons of pesto to cooked pasta and stir until pasta is well coated.
I

I've got more garlic scape recipes if anyone wants them!

 

[poppycat]

Yes PLEASE more garlic scape recipes!

I'm not that fond of them on their own, but that pesto sounds pretty good, I might try it tonight.

 

[Reinbeau]

Ok, I'll put them in the Harvest forum later on tonight.