Elephant Garlics in Aberdeen
Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum
A hardy allium grown from planting cloves rather than true seed, with large bulbs and a milder flavour than garlic. In the UK it does best in a sunny, free-draining bed, planted in autumn and lifted the following summer.
Growing Guide
Step-by-step instructions for growing Elephant Garlic
Planting Calendar
Growing Guide for
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Use this for a later start if the ground was too wet in autumn. Bulbs still need a free-draining site and a long growing season to make decent-sized heads.
Prepare the Bed
4 Mar – 19 MarDig over the soil around 4th March - 19th March and mix in compost or well-rotted manure. Raise the bed slightly if your ground is heavy, as elephant garlic dislikes sitting wet.
Plant Cloves
19 Mar – 4 AprSet the cloves in during 19th March - 4th April, with the pointed end up and the cloves deep. Space them apart, then water in well to settle the soil around each clove.
Keep Weed Free
26 Apr – 23 SeptFrom 26th April to 23rd September, hoe off weeds while they are small and keep the planting evenly moist in dry weather. Avoid overwatering, as the bulbs need steady growth rather than soggy soil.
Harvest Bulbs
25 Jun – 25 JulLift the crop once the tops begin to yellow and flop over, usually between 25th June and 25th July. Cure the bulbs somewhere dry and airy for two to three weeks before trimming and storing them.
Companion Plants
Tap a plant to see why it works (or doesn't) with Elephant Garlic.
Good companions
Plants to avoid
Why companion planting matters
Companion planting can deter pests, improve pollination, and make better use of space. Some plants confuse pests or attract beneficial insects; others improve soil or offer shade to neighbours that need it.
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