When to plant Elephant Garlic in the UK

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
Sow outdoors November, harvest June to July.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow outdoorsNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNo
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNo

UK averages · set your town for dates worked out from your local frost records · how dates are worked out

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Dates for your town

Set your town to see planting windows worked out from local frost history, not a generic UK calendar.

Growing guide for the UK

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

    late October to early November UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Dig the bed over well around late October to early 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

    early November to late November UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Plant the cloves during early November to late November, 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

    early December to late May UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    From early 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

    early June to late July UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Lift the bulbs when the foliage starts to yellow and collapse, usually from early June to late July. 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.