Last Updated on: October 25, 2026

Growing Elephant Garlic in the UK: Planting, Care and Harvesting

Elephant garlic is a rewarding crop for gardeners who enjoy growing something a little different. Its large cloves, broad leaves and impressive bulbs make it stand out on an allotment, while its mild flavour gives it plenty of uses in the kitchen.

Despite its name, elephant garlic is more closely related to leeks than ordinary garlic. That difference matters: it needs more growing space, and a healthy plant does not always produce a divided bulb in its first season.

Growing elephant garlic successfully starts with sound planting material, a sunny position and soil that drains well through winter. Give it a long growing season, keep weeds under control and water during dry spring weather to help it develop.

This guide covers when to plant elephant garlic in the UK, how to look after it, what to do with small corms and how to harvest and store your crop. It also explains some other garlic types worth trying.

What Is Elephant Garlic?

Elephant garlic belongs to Allium ampeloprasum, whereas ordinary garlic belongs to Allium sativum. It produces broad, strap-like leaves and can develop a large underground bulb containing several substantial cloves.

Its flavour is generally milder than ordinary garlic, particularly after cooking. Roasting brings out its sweetness, making it useful for spreading, blending into sauces or adding to vegetable dishes.

The RHS identifies elephant garlic as a leek relative and recommends October planting to give it the long growing season needed for a good crop. It also notes that plants sometimes produce a single, undivided bulb. RHS Guide

Large bulbs are an enjoyable possibility, but size varies with planting material, weather, soil and care. Avoid judging success solely against photographs of exceptionally large specimens.

When to Plant Elephant Garlic in the UK

Autumn is usually the best time to plant elephant garlic, with October a useful target in many UK gardens.

Plant while the soil is workable and drains freely. Autumn planting gives roots time to establish before growth slows in winter.

September to November can provide a practical planting window, depending on your location and supplier’s instructions. Later planting may be possible during suitable weather, but avoid forcing cloves into frozen or saturated ground.

Can You Plant Elephant Garlic in Spring?

Spring planting is possible, although the shorter growing period can affect the result. Plants may produce smaller bulbs or an undivided bulb known as a round.

Check whether your planting stock is suitable for spring planting and get it established as early as conditions allow.

If you receive cloves while your plot is too wet, starting them in individual pots can be more useful than planting into waterlogged soil.

Choose Healthy Planting Cloves

Buy elephant garlic intended for growing from a reputable supplier. Choose firm cloves without soft patches, obvious mould or damage around the base.

Keep the protective papery covering intact. There is no need to peel cloves as you would when preparing them for cooking.

Separate bulbs shortly before planting rather than leaving loose cloves exposed for a long period.

Larger, healthy cloves generally provide a stronger starting point than very small planting pieces, although they cannot guarantee a particular harvest.

Label the planting area clearly. Once winter weather arrives, it is surprisingly easy to forget exactly where a row begins.

Where to Grow Elephant Garlic

Choose a sunny position with fertile, well-drained soil.

Avoid a low corner where water collects after rain. Elephant garlic needs moisture while growing, but prolonged waterlogging can damage roots and encourage rot.

Raised beds can be helpful on a wet allotment because they allow you to improve the rooting environment above the surrounding ground.

Before planting:

• Remove perennial weeds and their roots.
• Add well-rotted compost where appropriate.
• Break up large clods without working saturated soil.
• Check that water can drain away.
• Leave enough room between neighbouring crops.

Avoid fresh manure immediately around the cloves.

Elephant garlic becomes a substantial plant, so keep it away from crops that will quickly shade it or compete for the same space.

How to Plant Elephant Garlic

Plant cloves individually with the pointed end upwards and the flatter rooting end downwards.

A practical starting point is approximately 30cm between plants, with generous access between rows. The RHS retail growing guidance uses 30cm between cloves and 60cm between rows, providing space for mature plants and maintenance. rhs.crocdn.co.uk

Planting-depth recommendations vary, so follow the instructions supplied with your cloves. As a general approach, cover the tip with a few centimetres of soil rather than leaving it exposed. Avoid unnecessarily deep planting in heavy, wet ground.

Planting Step by Step

1. Mark your planting positions.
2. Make a hole large enough to accommodate the clove without forcing it.
3. Position the clove upright.
4. Cover with soil and gently firm.
5. Water if the soil is dry.
6. Add a label with the planting date.

Do not push cloves hard into compacted soil, as this can damage the base.

If birds disturb newly planted cloves, use a securely fitted protective cover until they root. Ensure any netting is taut and checked regularly.

Starting Elephant Garlic in Pots

Starting cloves in pots can help when winter soil conditions are unsuitable.

Use individual pots with drainage holes and enough depth for developing roots. Fill with suitable peat-free compost, plant the cloves upright and water to settle the compost.

Keep pots in a bright, sheltered position, such as an unheated greenhouse or cold frame. Check moisture regularly, but avoid leaving them standing in water.

Plant out once the soil becomes workable and the cloves have developed a useful root system. Move them before roots become tightly congested.

Handle the root ball carefully and maintain approximately the same planting level when moving plants into the bed.

Can You Grow Elephant Garlic in Containers?

Yes, although elephant garlic needs more room than ordinary garlic.

Choose a substantial container with good drainage. A pot approximately 30–40cm deep provides a more useful rooting space than a shallow trough.

For a first attempt, growing one plant in a generous container makes watering and spacing easier to manage. Larger tubs can accommodate more plants if they have enough surface area and compost volume.

Use a suitable peat-free container compost and place the pot in full sun.

Container-grown plants depend on you for water and nutrients. Check drainage after prolonged rain and check moisture during dry spring weather.

Avoid crowding several cloves into a small pot in the hope of harvesting several large bulbs. Restricted roots and competition can limit development.

Watering Elephant Garlic

Established outdoor plants may need little additional water during a wet winter.

As growth increases in spring, check the soil during dry periods. Water thoroughly when needed so moisture reaches the root zone.

Aim for steady growth rather than repeated cycles of severe drying followed by heavy watering.

Container plants usually need closer attention because their compost can dry out faster than garden soil.

As the crop approaches maturity and foliage naturally begins to yellow, reduce unnecessary watering. Do not keep irrigating simply because it has become part of your routine.

Yellow leaves can also indicate stress, so consider the season, soil moisture and condition of the plant before assuming harvest time has arrived.

Feeding Elephant Garlic

Prepare the soil well before planting rather than relying on repeated strong feeds later.

In spring, assess growth and soil fertility. A suitable general fertiliser may help where nutrients are limited, applied according to its label.

Avoid excessive feeding, particularly high-nitrogen applications late in the growing season. Producing more foliage is not always the same as producing a better bulb.

Plants in containers may need supplementary feeding as nutrients in the compost become depleted. Follow the compost and fertiliser guidance rather than combining several products.

If growth looks poor, check drainage, root health and competition from weeds before adding more fertiliser.

Keep Weeds Under Control

Weeds compete for light, water and nutrients, particularly around young plants.

Hand-weed close to elephant garlic to avoid damaging the developing bulbs. Hoe carefully between rows, keeping cultivation shallow near the plants.

A modest mulch can help suppress weeds and maintain moisture, provided the ground drains well. Keep wet mulch away from the neck of each plant.

On a damp plot, a thick layer of material around the stems may create more problems than it solves.

Regular attention is easier than clearing a heavily overgrown bed later.

Should You Remove Elephant Garlic Flower Stalks?

Elephant garlic can produce tall flower stalks topped with rounded flower heads.

If your main aim is harvesting bulbs, remove the developing flower stalk before flowering. Snip it cleanly without damaging the surrounding leaves.

Young, tender stalks can be used in cooking once you have positively identified them as part of your elephant garlic crop.

Alternatively, leave a plant to flower for its ornamental value. Elephant garlic can produce striking purple-pink flower heads, although allowing flowering may involve a trade-off with bulb production. elephant garlic ‘Elephant’

Keep the leaves intact while they remain healthy. They support the plant as the bulb develops.

When to Harvest Elephant Garlic

Autumn-planted elephant garlic is generally harvested in summer, but the exact timing depends on local conditions and planting date.

Watch for the lower leaves yellowing and drying while some upper leaves remain green.

Lift a sample bulb if you are uncertain. Look for a developed bulb with protective outer layers rather than relying only on a calendar date.

Avoid waiting until every leaf has completely collapsed. Bulbs left too long can become harder to lift cleanly and may have poorer protective coverings.

How to Lift the Bulbs

Choose a dry spell if possible.

Insert a fork well away from the bulb, loosen the surrounding soil and lift gently. Do not pull hard on the stem.

Brush off loose soil without stripping away the protective skins. Keep damaged bulbs separate for early use.

There is no need to wash bulbs intended for storage.

Drying and Storing Elephant Garlic

After lifting, dry the bulbs in a sheltered, airy place out of rain.

Arrange them with space around each bulb. Avoid piling freshly harvested plants together, as trapped moisture slows drying.

Allow the foliage and outer skins to dry thoroughly before tidying the bulbs.

Once cured, trim dried roots and foliage if required, taking care not to damage the bulb.

Store in a dry, ventilated place and inspect regularly. Use any softening or damaged bulbs promptly if still sound inside, discarding those showing rot.

Avoid sealed plastic bags and damp storage areas.

Why Has My Elephant Garlic Produced One Large Clove?

A single, undivided bulb is often called a round.

This can happen even when the plant appears healthy. Planting time, growing conditions and the size or maturity of the planting material can influence the result.

A sound round is edible. You can also save it for replanting in autumn, giving it another growing season to develop.

Check saved planting material carefully and only retain healthy bulbs.

An undivided bulb is not automatically evidence that you did something wrong.

What Are the Small Corms Around Elephant Garlic?

Elephant garlic may produce small, hard-coated offsets around the main bulb, commonly called corms or cormels.

These are different from the large cloves inside the harvested bulb.

You can save healthy corms for propagation, but they take longer to produce a substantial crop. Their hard outer covering can also make emergence slow or uneven.

Grow them in a clearly labelled nursery area or pots so you do not lose track of them.

Expect a longer project rather than a quick route to large bulbs. For a straightforward harvest, full-sized planting cloves are the easier starting point.

Other Garlic Types Worth Trying

Hardneck Garlic

Hardneck garlic produces a firm central stalk and often develops edible flower shoots known as scapes.

Different varieties offer a range of flavours and clove sizes. Choose planting stock recommended for UK conditions.

Softneck Garlic

Softneck garlic generally produces a flexible stem and is often chosen for storage.

It can be useful if you want to plait your crop, although storage performance still depends on the variety, harvest condition and curing.

Unusual Garlic Varieties

Specialist suppliers offer garlic groups such as Rocambole, Porcelain and Purple Stripe.

Try a small quantity alongside a reliable variety and compare performance on your own plot. Record planting dates, harvest size, flavour and storage quality.

Wild garlic is a different crop grown mainly for its leaves. It needs its own growing approach rather than being treated as a direct substitute for bulb garlic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elephant Garlic Stronger Than Ordinary Garlic?

Usually not. Its large size does not mean a stronger flavour; it is generally milder, especially when cooked.

Does Elephant Garlic Need Full Sun?

A sunny position is the best choice for productive growth. Avoid planting where taller crops will shade it for much of the day.

Can I Grow It on Clay Soil?

Possibly, provided drainage is adequate. On heavy, wet ground, a raised bed or large container may be more suitable.

Can I Replant My Own Cloves?

Yes, if the bulbs are healthy. Avoid saving cloves from plants showing signs of rot or other disease.

How Do I Get Bigger Bulbs?

Start with healthy cloves, plant in autumn, allow generous spacing and maintain steady growth. Good drainage and weed control matter more than applying excessive fertiliser.

Give Elephant Garlic Time and Space

Elephant garlic is an enjoyable crop because it offers something different from ordinary garlic without requiring complicated equipment.

Plant healthy cloves in a sunny, well-drained position, give each plant room and look after it through spring. Harvest carefully and dry the bulbs thoroughly.

Whether you lift a divided bulb or a useful round for replanting, each season helps you learn what works on your own allotment.

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