First time with onions and garlic - Questions

[Sammster]

I noticed a couple of days ago that my garlic has "scapes". I'll be harvesting them tomorrow, hoping I didn't wait too long. How do I know when to harvest the garlic bulbs?

I also noticed my onions have bolted.
I planted them in the fall. From what I've seen on YouTube videos - this is not a good thing, and I need to harvest them.

I just planted bulbing onion starts in my greenstalk, vertical garden. Any tips on a more successful harvest would be much appreciated.

 

[tripletfeb]

I noticed a couple of days ago that my garlic has "scapes". I'll be harvesting them tomorrow, hoping I didn't wait too long. How do I know when to harvest the garlic bulbs?

I also noticed my onions have bolted.
I planted them in the fall. From what I've seen on YouTube videos - this is not a good thing, and I need to harvest them.

I just planted bulbing onion starts in my greenstalk, vertical garden. Any tips on a more successful harvest would be much appreciated.

You harvest hardneck garlic when the bottom leaves start to turn yellow and dry. For the onions, in your zone you probably should have waited to plant them until early spring. Maybe they didn't over winter well. I'm in northern Ohio and have always planted my onions in early spring. Keep me updated on how the scapes taste, I need to harvest mine too but not all developed so I figured, why bother?

 

[Sammster]

You harvest hardneck garlic when the bottom leaves start to turn yellow and dry. For the onions, in your zone you probably should have waited to plant them until early spring. Maybe they didn't over winter well. I'm in northern Ohio and have always planted my onions in early spring. Keep me updated on how the scapes taste, I need to harvest mine too but not all developed so I figured, why bother?

Ohhh.... good to know, thank you.

I'll let you know on the scapes. I plan on freeze drying them and powdering them.

 

[tripletfeb]

Ohhh.... good to know, thank you.

I'll let you know on the scapes. I plan on freeze drying them and powdering them.

Sounds yummy!

 

[Sally PB]

Keep me updated on how the scapes taste, I need to harvest mine too but not all developed so I figured, why bother?

I've read that cutting the scapes will make the plant grow a bigger bulb, so I'd cut any you find. I read (and do) cut them when they "make a circle."

Scapes are yummy garlic deliciousness that comes around briefly, once a year. Not to be missed!

 

[Sally PB]

I have found that any onions I miss harvesting in the fall form a seed head the next year, and the bulbs are mushy and no good.

I plant onion sets in the spring. It says, "as soon as the ground can be worked," but I wait longer than that. I usually plant them, starting around mid-April, and also around other things that they companion well with, like greens and tomatoes.

Onions and garlic "don't play well" with beans and peas, so don't plant them together.

I planted some bush beans in a bed that had had garlic in it, though, and the beans did fine. I planted them after I'd dug the garlic in early July.

 

[Sammster]

I have found that any onions I miss harvesting in the fall form a seed head the next year, and the bulbs are mushy and no good.

I plant onion sets in the spring. It says, "as soon as the ground can be worked," but I wait longer than that. I usually plant them, starting around mid-April, and also around other things that they companion well with, like greens and tomatoes.

Onions and garlic "don't play well" with beans and peas, so don't plant them together.

I planted some bush beans in a bed that had had garlic in it, though, and the beans did fine. I planted them after I'd dug the garlic in early July.

Thank you, Sally. I hope my onions aren't mushy. I'm kinda bummed. But - now I know

 

[Sally PB]

Do you want some Egyptian Walking Onion starts this fall? PM me.

 

[Sammster]

@Sally PB are these scapes ready for harvest?

 

[tripletfeb]

@Sally PB are these scapes ready for harvest?

View attachment 3852068

My scapes don't look like that yet. Learning along with you now!