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 York
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 York · average last frost around 26 Apr
| Activity | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant out | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Harvest | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 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
12 Mar to 27 MarDig over the soil around 12th March - 27th March. Mix in compost or well-rotted manure. Raise the bed slightly if the ground is heavy.
02
Plant Cloves
27 Mar to 12 AprUse named planting stock, not supermarket bulbs. Plant cloves during 27th March - 12th April, 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
26 Apr to 9 Oct Dates as each sowing reaches this stageFrom 26th April to 9th October, hoe off weeds while they are small. Keep the planting evenly moist in dry weather. Do not leave the soil soggy.
04
Harvest Bulbs
25 Jul to 9 Oct Dates as each sowing reaches this stageLift the crop from 25th July - 9th October 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.