Garlic Escapeades
I’m growing garlic for the first time this year.
Back in October I tenderly shoved cloves into the ground and before long they started sprouting.
Originally I was going to write a post on garlic scapes, because although I’ve never actually eaten them before I’ve heard that they are one of those fleeting Spring treasures. I was all excited to chop off the scapes and make all kinds of tasty treats when I realized, thru a little research, that I might have planted softneck garlic, not the hardneck variety that produces a scape.
Here’s the type I planted, no hardneck. Or has it just been chopped off?
To add to my dismay, it appears that the shoots my garlic is putting off are a last resort at survival.
Help! Am I growing a softneck variety that is ready for harvest because it’s about to bolt or am I growing a hardneck, in which case I should let the scapes curl and then eat them up?
One thing I know for sure, I have greens galore!
Last night we were lucky enough to be invited over to a friend’s for dinner and I brought the salad. The base was finely chopped Red Russian kale massaged with toasted sesame oil and smoked sea salt. I also threw in some preserved lemons, thin slices of fresh red radish from the garden, chive blossoms, and a sprinkle of grated raw milk herb cheese from the farmer’s market.
It was an awesome combo and a big hit, I will definitely repeat and next time try to snap a photo!
