Growing Elephant Garlic and Other Unusual Types
Elevate your garlic patch with something extraordinary! Elephant garlic and unique allium cousins bring giant bulbs, mild flavors, and visual drama to your garden and kitchen. Though not a “true” garlic, elephant garlic is easy and fun to grow—and there are plenty of other unusual types to try. Here’s your guide to planting, growing, and harvesting these show-stopping garlic relatives.
What Is Elephant Garlic?
- Not a true garlic (Allium sativum), but a close relative of leeks (Allium ampeloprasum).
- Bulbs can weigh up to a pound! Mild, sweet, less pungent than regular garlic.
- Cloves are huge, with a few “baby” cormlets (small offset bulbs) around the main ones.
- Great for roasting, slicing, or raw salads.
Why Grow Elephant Garlic?
- Big bulbs—fun for kids and striking in the garden.
- Milder flavor—ideal for those who find regular garlic too assertive.
- Long-lasting plants—some cloves left in the ground will produce repeat crops (cut the flower stalks to keep bulbs growing).
How to Plant Elephant Garlic
- Plant individual cloves with papery skins still on.
- Prepare a sunny, well-drained spot: Dig in compost, avoid boggy beds.
- Plant in autumn or early spring:
- Cloves 2–3 inches deep, 10–12 inches apart.
- Mulch with straw or leaves.
- Water in dry spells, but don’t overwater.
Growing Care
- Elephant garlic needs similar care to regular garlic—but give it space!
- Remove flower stalks (“scapes”) as they appear for bigger bulbs, or leave for decorative value (edible, like garlic scapes).
When and How to Harvest
- Wait until the lower half of leaves go yellow and begin to flop (usually midsummer for autumn plantings).
- Loosen soil with a fork, gently lift the giant bulbs.
- Cure and store as for regular garlic.
Other Unusual Garlic Types to Try
1. Rocambole Garlic
- A type of hardneck garlic with easy-peel, richly-flavored cloves and curly scapes.
2. Creole Garlic
- Grows well in warm, humid climates; purple-skinned, spicy, stores well.
3. Turban & Asiatic Garlics
- Early-maturing, with striking flavors and unique clove patterns—great for spring growing.
4. Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum, “ramsons”)
- For leafy “garlic greens” in woodland or shady patches—delicious in spring salads and pestos.
Pro Tips
- Elephant garlic tolerates poor soils but thrives in fertile, loose, well-drained beds.
- Save the biggest cloves each season for replanting, and eat the smaller ones first.
- In containers: use the biggest possible pot, and check watering—elephant garlic needs steady but not soggy soil.
Wrapping Up
Elephant garlic and unusual alliums bring size, mildness, and fun to any garlic patch. Easy to grow and harvest, they’re perfect for gardeners who love something different on their plate—and in their garden beds.