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 Durham
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 Durham · average last frost around 10 May
| Activity | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant out | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Harvest | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | 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 if the ground was too wet in autumn. Heads are usually smaller. They still need a free-draining site.
01
Prepare the Bed
26 Mar to 10 AprDig over the soil around 26th March - 10th April. Mix in compost or well-rotted manure. Raise the bed slightly if the ground is heavy.
02
Plant Cloves
10 Apr to 26 AprUse named planting stock, not supermarket bulbs. Plant cloves during 10th April - 26th April, pointed end up, with the tip about below the surface. Space apart, in rows apart. Water only if the soil is dry.
- Skip planting if the bed sits wet.
- Birds pull cloves. Cover the row with fleece or mesh until they root.
03
Keep Weed Free
10 May to 23 Oct Dates as each sowing reaches this stageFrom 10th May to 23rd October, hoe off weeds while they are small. Keep the planting evenly moist in dry weather. Do not leave the soil soggy.
04
Harvest Bulbs
8 Aug to 23 Oct Dates as each sowing reaches this stageLift the crop from 8th August - 23rd 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.