To pull or not to pull - that is the question.

And the answer? No one really knows for sure - so here's a few things to consider:

Scape watch:

• When your scapes appear, your plants are within weeks of pulling.
• Cut scapes to enhance/enlarge bulb size; keep scapes for plants being saved for seed. When exactly to cut scapes varies. If you want to eat the tasty bubil stalks, wait until they curl. If you do not, cut then as they appear - 4 inches or so. Once the scape is gone, all the plant's energy is focused on bulb size. But to create good seed stock, you'll want to let the plant continue it's life cycle, so leave the scapes in place for plants destined as seed stock.

When is it time to pull/remove?

• I say remove not pull because when it's time, you'll want to coax the plant out, not pull it. Use a fork-style device. The roots will hold this plant securely and pulling may detach the leaves that you'll want for the curing process.
• When your scapes curl or are cut, stop watering. Let your bed dry out.
• When half the leaves have died back (dried out) - it's time to do a test removal. Is the bulb a good size and the leaves not soggy? If you've had recent rain and the leaves are soggy (sometimes we have weeks of rain, so this occurs), and your weather forecast is dry, wait a few days longer -otherwise start removing.

Each bulb type reacts a bit differently in timing so check them as a garlic-type. If they stay in too long the bulb will split and the leaf-paper won't be able to contain them. Once this happens, you will not be able to cure and store. So instead of overall bulb size, we are looking at the cloves - do they look filled out and firm.

We are hoping to start removing next week - which is early, but with this wierd weather year, watching the plant instead of the calendar is your best bet.