Elephant Garlics in Fritton

Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum

Elephant Garlic
Elephant Garlic · 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

Add to garden

Calibrated to Fritton · last frost ≈ 28 Apr

Sow November to December, harvest June to July. Frost risk November to April.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
SowNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYes
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNo

Growing guide

Step-by-step instructions for growing Elephant Garlic

Growing guide for

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Plant cloves straight into a prepared bed for the most reliable UK crop. They sit through winter and bulk up for harvest the following summer.

  1. 01

    Prepare the Bed

    2 Nov to 16 Nov

    Dig the bed over well around 2nd November - 16th November, then work in garden compost or well-rotted manure. Make sure the soil drains freely, because cloves can rot if the bed stays wet in winter.

  2. 02

    Plant Cloves

    16 Nov to 2 Dec

    Plant the cloves during 16th November - 2nd December, with the pointed end up and the cloves deep. Space them apart and water in thoroughly straight after planting.

  3. 03

    Keep Weed Free

    24 Dec to 23 May

    From 24th December onwards, keep the row clear of weeds so the bulbs are not robbed of light and moisture. Water only in dry spells, and mulch lightly if the soil is prone to drying out at the surface.

  4. 04

    Harvest Bulbs

    22 Jun to 27 Jul

    Lift the bulbs when the foliage starts to yellow and collapse, usually from 22nd June to 27th July. Ease them up carefully with a fork, then dry them in a warm, airy place for two to three weeks before storing.

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.

Elephant Garlic guides by town

See how Elephant Garlic timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.