Something I've never tried is using the "garlic scapes" -- the stalks that grow up from hardneck garlic and form a flower or a cluster of bulbils. They can be harvested -- and doing so is supposed to let the plant put more energy into growing the garlic bulb -- and cut up to use in salads, or cooked, or pickled. Has anyone else tried this? One thing that I read while researching this is that "the scape must be curled" in order to be tender, otherwise it will be tough. This would be a nice way of getting some early garlic flavor into your cooking, while also potentially helping the garlic bulbs grow larger. Opinions?
