Elephant Garlics in Cambridge
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
Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.
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
26 Feb – 13 MarDig over the soil around 26th February - 13th 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
13 Mar – 29 MarSet the cloves in during 13th March - 29th March, 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
20 Apr – 17 SeptFrom 20th April to 17th 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
19 Jun – 19 JulLift the crop once the tops begin to yellow and flop over, usually between 19th June and 19th 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.
Related Plants
Explore similar plants you might like
Basil
Basil is a fragrant, tender herb whose leaves are a staple of summer cooking. Native to tropical regions, basil is treated as an annual in temperate climates like the UK because it cannot tolerate frost. It thrives in warm, sunny conditions and can be grown in garden beds or pots for a steady supply of fresh, flavourful leaves throughout the summer.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are a hardy winter brassica (cabbage family) that form sturdy, leafy stems often around 60–90cm tall. They produce edible mini-cabbage buds along the stem from autumn through winter. Thanks to their cold tolerance, sprouts remain productive into late winter, and frost actually improves their sweetness.
Calabrese
Calabrese (broccoli) produces a large central head of tightly-packed green buds, followed by smaller side-shoots after the main head is cut. It’s a cool-season brassica crop. Grow it in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil and keep plants watered during dry spells. Harvest the heads while firm, then leave the stem in the ground to allow side-shoots to develop.