Elephant Garlics in Old Town

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 Old Town · last frost ≈ 16 Feb

Sow December to January, harvest July to September. Frost risk December to February.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
SowYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYes
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesNoNoNo

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

    10 Dec to 24 Dec

    Dig the bed over well around 10th December - 24th December, 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

    24 Dec to 9 Jan

    Plant the cloves during 24th December - 9th January, with the pointed end up and the cloves deep. Space them apart and water in thoroughly straight after planting.

  3. 03

    Keep Weed Free

    31 Jan to 30 Jun

    From 31st January 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

    30 Jul to 3 Sept

    Lift the bulbs when the foliage starts to yellow and collapse, usually from 30th July to 3rd September. 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.