Elephant Garlic bulblets AB - Allium ampeloprasum

Elephant garlic, or oriental garlic, is halfway between garlic and leek. It has very large bulbs, 7 to 10 cm long and weighing up to 400 g, made up of 4 to 6 large cloves with a milder flavor than ordinary garlic. Its stems, leaves and flowers, however, resemble leeks in every way.

Where and when to plant elephant garlic cloves?

Elephant garlic enjoys all types of soil, as long as they are well aerated and drained, and amended the season before planting, as well as sunny exposures. In compact, damp soils, cultivate in raised beds 10 to 15 cm high to facilitate water drainage.

Elephant garlic is planted in autumn, from September to November.

How to plant elephant garlic cloves?

To plant garlic cloves correctly, and obtain a good harvest:

• make a furrow, or draw a line, on either side of the cultivation line, spacing each line 30 cm apart;
• plant the cloves, pointing upwards, 5 cm deep in well-drained soil, every 10 to 15 cm.

Care and maintenance

After planting, this garlic requires very little maintenance. Hoe the plant a few times during the growing season to eliminate weeds, and cut off the flower stalks in June to encourage bulb development.

Water only if the soil is too dry, during planting and bulb formation. Garlic elephant plants can be mulched in dry periods. Avoid mulching in humid regions, however, as excess water causes the bulbs to rot.

When and how to harvest garlic?

After planting, this garlic requires very little maintenance. Hoe the plant a few times during cultivation to eliminate weeds, and cut the flower stalk in June to encourage bulb development.

Water only if the soil is too dry, during planting and bulb formation. Garlic elephant plants can be mulched in dry periods. Avoid mulching in humid regions, however, as excess water causes the bulbs to rot.

Leaves: May to June

You can harvest elephant garlic leaves as and when you need them, and eat them like leeks. However, such harvesting considerably limits bulb development.

The flower stalk: in June

Around June, elephant garlic produces a long flower stalk. It can be harvested before the inflorescence appears and, like leeks, eaten raw or steamed.

Mature bulbs: July to August

Mature bulbs are harvested when the top half of the leaves have dried. Harvest elephant garlic plants in dry weather, leaving them to dry out on the ground for a few days. If rain or excessive heat is forecast in the days following harvest, spread them out in a protected area before storing.

How to store elephant garlic bulbs

For long-lasting storage, keep garlic heads well dried, away from light and in a cool, well-ventilated room. In bunches, nets or crates, garlic can be stored in a variety of ways.

Elephant garlic can be stored for 3 to 6 months.

Elephant garlic in the vegetable garden: companion plants and crop rotation

Avoid planting garlic, or any other plant in the same family (leek, shallot, onion, etc.), in the same place for at least 4 to 5 years. Garlic is generally grown after a fruiting vegetable (tomato, zucchini, eggplant, bell pepper, etc.) and before a fabaceae (bean, pea, bean, lentil, etc.).

In the vegetable garden, elephant garlic likes to be close to :

• beet ;
• chamomile ;
• carrot ;
• celery
• strawberry plant ;
• lettuce ;
• tomatoes.

Keep away from :

• asparagus ;
• cabbage
• broad bean;
• peas.