Elephant garlic
I've just been given two huge bulbs of 'Elephant Garlic' for planting and don't know what to do with it.
Does anyone know when to plant it? How to plant it? Any tips?
I'd never heard of it before but was saying to someone I met the other day that I wanted to grow more things that I can't buy in shops (like Tayberries) and they mentioned that a friend grew Elephant Garlic.
This morning a package arrived in the post with two bulbs in it. Really generous. Each one is about 4 inches across and each clove is about the size of a whole bulb of normal garlic. They look fantasic and I'm keen to get the planting right rather than waste them through my usual ignorance.
Hi
you do not treat it any different to normal garlic which is planted in the Autumn.
I've just come acrosss a description of Elephant Garlic on a website called reallygarlicky.co.uk.
It says: "Technically elephant garlic is more closely related to the leek. In the past it has also been called "giant garlic" and "giant leek." The huge bulbs, with several cloves which can individually be the size of regular garlic bulbs, are famous for their rich but milder flavour.
"The largest bulbs can sometimes reach a weight of a half pound or more. They have tall scapes, which can reach five feet in height, with a beautiful purple flower on their top. This variety originates from central Europe."
Interesting, eh?
Hi Mike
The only thing I can add about Elephant garlic is that if it throws up a flower stalk cut it off as soon as you can see it then the strength goes into bulb.
By the way they like copious amounts of water without drowning