Russian Giant
The classic elephant garlic for UK gardens. Produces very large bulbs with a mild, sweet flavour and stores well over winter. Reliable in most soils, as long as they are not waterlogged.
When to plant Elephant Garlic in Cambridge
Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum
A hardy allium grown from planting cloves, not true seed. Use named planting stock, not supermarket bulbs. It does best in a sunny, free-draining bed. Autumn is the main crop. Lift the following summer.
120 cm · Full Sun · Moderate Water
Calibrated to Cambridge · last frost ≈ 7 May
| Activity | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant out | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Harvest | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Growing guide
What to do through the growing season
Growing guide for
Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.
Plant cloves in a prepared bed. They sit through winter and bulk up for harvest the following summer.
01
Prepare the Bed
19 Oct to 2 NovDig the bed over around 19th October - 2nd November. Work in garden compost or well-rotted manure. The soil must drain freely.
02
Plant Cloves
19 Sept to 2 NovUse named planting stock, not supermarket bulbs. Plant cloves during 19th September - 2nd November, pointed end up, with the tip about below the surface. Space apart, in rows apart. Water only if the soil is dry.
- Birds pull cloves. Cover the row with fleece or mesh until they root.
03
Keep Weed Free
19 Sept to 1 May 2027 Dates as each sowing reaches this stageFrom 19th September to 1st May 2027, keep the row clear of weeds. Water only in dry spells.
04
Harvest Bulbs
17 Apr to 5 Jul 2027 Dates as each sowing reaches this stageLift the bulbs when the foliage starts to yellow and collapse, from 17th April 2027 to 5th July 2027. Ease them up with a fork. Dry them in a warm, airy place for two to three weeks before storing.
Suggested varieties
Popular varieties of Elephant Garlic to consider
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Elephant Garlic guides by town
See how Elephant Garlic timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.