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 Cardiff
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.
120 cm · Full Sun · Moderate Water
Calibrated to Cardiff · last frost ≈ 22 Apr
| Activity | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow outdoors | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Harvest | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Growing guide
What to do through the growing season
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.
01
Prepare the Bed
8 Mar to 23 MarDig over the soil around 8th March - 23rd March and mix in compost or well-rotted manure. Raise the bed slightly if your ground is heavy, as elephant garlic dislikes sitting wet.
02
Plant Cloves
23 Mar to 8 AprSet the cloves in during 23rd March - 8th April, with the pointed end up and the tip about below the surface. Space cloves apart in rows apart, then water only if the soil is dry.
03
Keep Weed Free
22 Apr to 5 Oct Dates as each sowing reaches this stageFrom 22nd April to 5th October, 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.
04
Harvest Bulbs
21 Jul to 5 Oct Dates as each sowing reaches this stageLift the crop from 21st July - 5th October once the tops begin to yellow and flop over. Ease the bulbs up carefully, then dry them somewhere warm and airy for two to three weeks before trimming and storing them.
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.