That’s right Elephant Garlic. It is Garlic of Elephant proportions! I’m not joking either, ‘the cloves are big, wow’ exclaimed my daughter, age 5.
If the cloves are big, how big are the bulbs?! I thought, well it’s time to plant them out into the ground to find out.
I’m also planting normal size garlic so we should get a good comparison on size when it’s ready to harvest in July.
Why is Elephant Garlic so Large?
Elephant Garlic is twice the size of normal garlic.
Elephant Garlic is called this because the Garlic resembles an Elephants Foot.
Here is a comparison below, see what you think.
What Does Elephant Garlic Taste like?
Surprisingly it has a milder taste of garlic than the normal size garlic. This makes it perfect for using in cooking for roasting and baking for a milder taste.
Unboxing your Elephant Garlic
It’s easy as the Elephant Garlic cloves come in a bag and they have already been broken up into the individual cloves ready for planting.
I bought my Elephant Garlic from Suttons Seeds this year but have previously bought from The Garlic Farm.
How to Plant Elephant Garlic in the Soil
Firstly the Soil, it needs a few things to get it up to scratch.
Soil Requirements
- Added Compost so it’s got the nutrients to carry it through the Winter and Spring,
- Really Good Drainage so you’ll need a raised bed or put a handful of gravel in your container,
- Wet Soil – Garlic likes being planted in wet soil so it can get growing.
- Frost or Frozen Ground – Garlic loves the freezing cold temperatures, it actually helps the cloves grow larger. Get planting before the frosts begin.
Time of the Year to Plant
- October
- November
- Winter Solstice (21 December 2024) – The shortest Day,
- Or up until January.
Harvest
6 to 8 Months Later, usually around May, June or July.
Spacing
Spacing is the key with Elephant Garlic as you will want to leave enough room for it to grow into a bulb (a collection of cloves).
- Plant Elephant Garlic Cloves – 15 – 20 cm apart.
- Plant Normal Garlic Cloves – 5 – 10 cm apart.
Depth
Plant Elephant Garlic Cloves – 10 cm deep in soil.
Plant Normal Garlic Cloves – 2.5 cm deep in soil.
Plant Garlic With Me – Video
Autumn Planting Garlic
- Growing Autumn Garlic with Onions and Leeks.
- Planting Elephant Garlic – Have you tried it?
- What are Garlic Scapes? and is my Garlic Flowering?
Spring Planting Garlic
- Growing Spring Planting Garlic in Mid March – Is it too late to grow?
- How to Harvest Spring Planted Garlic
Onions are a good partner to grow with Garlic
The Onion Series
Part 1 📕 – Start Growing Onions in wet weather in cell trays with Planting Video
Part 2 📗 – How to Plant Onion Sets in the Ground that have been grown in Cell Trays with Video
Part 3 📘 – Onions from Sets – How To Tell when Your Onions are Ready for Harvest
Part 4 📙 – How To Harvest Onions & Make Your Own Drying Rack
🧄 Growing Garlic with Onions and Leeks
📒 The Essential Guide to Growing Autumn & Spring – Onions from Sets – My Free Ebook
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