When to plant Elephant Garlic in Manchester

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 Manchester · last frost ≈ 17 Apr

Sow outdoors November to December, harvest June to August. Frost risk November to April.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow outdoorsNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYes
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesNoNoNoNo

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Growing guide for

Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.

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

    8 Nov to 22 Nov

    Dig the bed over well around 8th November - 22nd 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

    22 Nov to 8 Dec

    Plant the cloves during 22nd November - 8th December, with the pointed end up and the tip about below the surface. Space cloves apart in rows apart. Water only if the soil is dry.

  3. 03

    Keep Weed Free

    22 Dec to 6 Jun 2027 Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    From 22nd 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

    20 Jun to 10 Aug 2027 Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Lift the bulbs when the foliage starts to yellow and collapse, usually from 20th June 2027 to 10th August 2027. Ease them up carefully with a fork, then dry them in a warm, airy place for two to three weeks before storing.

Suggested varieties

Popular varieties of Elephant Garlic to consider

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.

Elephant Garlic guides by town

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