Grown Elephant Garlic?

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Elephant Garlic — Onions & alliums

240-270days to harvest

14-30days to germinate

Z5–10USDA zones

Easydifficulty

HeirloomContainer friendly

Sowing

Plant cloves 4-6 inches deep in fall, 4-6 weeks before ground freezes. Pointed end up, blunt end down.

Cultivation

Sun: Full sun (6+ hours)
Water: 1 inch per week during active growth, stop watering when leaves begin to yellow
Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil with good organic content
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Spacing: 8-10 inches
Height: 3-4 feet
Season: Plant in fall for summer harvest

Appearance & flavour

Colour: White to cream colored bulbs and cloves
Size: 3-5 inch diameter bulbs, individual cloves 1-2 inches
Shape: Large round bulbs with 4-6 huge cloves
Flavour: Mild, sweet garlic flavor, much less pungent than regular garlic

In the kitchen

Excellent roasted whole, grilled, or used fresh. Perfect for those who find regular garlic too strong.

Pests, disease & resistance

Pests: Aphids, thrips, onion maggot
Diseases: White rot, fusarium basal rot, rust
Resistance: Generally disease resistant, more robust than regular garlic

Planting calendar by USDA zone

Zone	Start indoors	Transplant	Direct sow	Harvest
5	—	—	April – May	December – November
6	—	—	April – May	December – November
7	—	—	March – May	December – November
8	—	—	March – April	November – December
9	—	—	February – March	October – December
10	—	—	January – March	October – December
11	—	—	January – February	September – December
12	—	—	January – February	September – December
13	—	—	January – February	September – December

Companion planting

8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.

TomatoesElephant garlic repels aphids, spider mites, and other pests that commonly attack tomatoes

CabbageDeters cabbage worms, aphids, and other brassica pests while improving growth

CarrotsRepels carrot flies and root maggots, while carrots help break up soil for garlic bulbs

LettuceProvides pest protection without competing for nutrients, maximizes garden space

RosesRepels aphids, spider mites, and may reduce fungal diseases like black spot

PeppersDeters aphids, spider mites, and other common pepper pests

SpinachBenefits from pest protection while maturing before garlic needs full space

StrawberriesRepels slugs, aphids, and other pests that damage strawberry plants

Avoid

BeansGarlic can inhibit nitrogen fixation and overall growth of legumes

PeasAllelopathic compounds in garlic can stunt pea growth and reduce yields

AsparagusCan inhibit asparagus growth and interfere with root development

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Calories (per 100 g): 143
Protein (g): 6.62
Fat (g): 0.38
Carbohydrate (g): 28.2
Fibre (g): 2.7
Vitamin C (mg): 10
Selenium (µg): 9.8

← PreviousRed Burgundy Onion Next →Evergreen White Bunching Onion

Where to buy seed and equipment

Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Growing it? There is a full cultivation guide at the onions & alliums growing guide.

Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.

Sowing

Cultivation

Appearance & flavour

In the kitchen

Pests, disease & resistance

Planting calendar by USDA zone

Companion planting

Avoid

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Where to buy seed and equipment

Grown Elephant Garlic?

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