Elephant Garlic
Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum
Height: 3 feet
Spacing: 4 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: (annual)
Description:
Easy peeling with a mild flavor, this variety is a must grow kitchen gardens; plant in spring or fall; huge, 4" wide bulbs are perfect for use in salads, dressings or roasted for dips; remove center scape to encourage larger bulb growth
Edible Qualities
Elephant Garlic is an annual vegetable plant that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces gigantic creamy white round roots with buttery yellow overtones which are harvested from mid spring to mid fall. The roots have a mild taste with a crunchy texture and a distinctive fragrance.
The roots are most often used in the following ways:
- Fresh Eating
- Eating When Cooked/Prepared
- Cooking
- Baking
- Sauces
Planting & Growing
Elephant Garlic will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 inches. When planted in rows, individual plants should be spaced approximately 4 inches apart. This fast-growing vegetable plant is an annual, which means that it will grow for one season in your garden and then die after producing a crop. Because of its relatively short time to maturity, it lends itself to a series of successive plantings each staggered by a week or two; this will prolong the effective harvest period.
This plant is typically grown in a designated vegetable garden. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.
Elephant Garlic is a good choice for the vegetable garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
