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 London
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 London · average last frost around 4 Apr
| Activity | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant out | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Harvest | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 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
18 Feb to 5 MarDig over the soil around 18th February - 5th March. Mix in compost or well-rotted manure. Raise the bed slightly if the ground is heavy.
02
Plant Cloves
5 Mar to 21 MarUse named planting stock, not supermarket bulbs. Plant cloves during 5th March - 21st March, 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
4 Apr to 17 Sept Dates as each sowing reaches this stageFrom 4th April to 17th September, hoe off weeds while they are small. Keep the planting evenly moist in dry weather. Do not leave the soil soggy.
04
Harvest Bulbs
3 Jul to 17 Sept Dates as each sowing reaches this stageLift the crop from 3rd July - 17th September 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.