Elephant Garlics in Glen Tanar

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 Glen Tanar · last frost ≈ 11 Jun

Sow September, harvest April to May. Frost risk August to June.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
SowNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNo
HarvestNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo

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

    27 Aug to 10 Sept

    Dig the bed over well around 27th August - 10th September, 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

    10 Sept to 26 Sept

    Plant the cloves during 10th September - 26th September, with the pointed end up and the cloves deep. Space them apart and water in thoroughly straight after planting.

  3. 03

    Keep Weed Free

    18 Oct to 17 Mar

    From 18th October 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

    16 Apr to 21 May

    Lift the bulbs when the foliage starts to yellow and collapse, usually from 16th April to 21st May. 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.