What is Elephant Garlic?
Elephant garlic is possibly one of the easiest plants to grow, though it does take two seasons for it to reach its maximum potential. It is just like growing normal garlic (also called true garlic) with only slight variations. In appearance elephant garlic truly looks like a significantly larger version of true garlic yet it is more closely related to a leek. But for everyday purposes it's easier to think of it as just really big garlic. Its primary usage is culinary for both the bulbs and the scapes (flower stalks), but is also loved by pollinators when it flowers. If allowed to grow, the flower produced by elephant garlic is a single roughly baseball sized globe composed of hundreds of small purple flowers that brings bees and butterflies to your garden.
Our elephant garlic stock has been grown and replanted every year at our home in Denton County since 2018 when we were gifted a dozen elephant garlic bulbs from family living near Oklahoma City, who had been growing and replanting theirs for years before that. We don't use chemicals for pests or fertilizer, and so we call it "naturally grown".
IN THE KITCHEN
Use the cloves the same way you would use true garlic cloves. There is a difference in flavor though, where elephant garlic is more mild with a hint of sweetness that is not present in true garlic. We like to compare the taste difference between elephant garlic and true garlic to difference between shallots and onions.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
If you want the plant to produce large bulbs you must remove the flower as it begins growing, otherwise the plant will preferentially invest energy into the flower over growing a bulb. The stalk of the flower is edible and can be used in the kitchen the same way you would green onions or chives, adding the aroma of the elephant garlic in addition to its flavor to whatever dish you want.
Elephant garlic will also produce what looks like little golden miniature cloves that you will find either in the roots or along the outside of the bulb. These are called "corms" and are another way the plant will reproduce. Corms require an extra year compared to elephant garlic grown from cloves. In their first year, corms will produce a smaller overall plant and will have a single round bulb instead of a segmented bulb come harvest time. Replant this single bulb in the fall with the next year's elephant garlic crop and it will grow into a normal segmented bulb just like the others grown from cloves.
GROWING INSTRUCTIONS
WHEN TO PLANT:
Here in Denton County, zone 8a, plant between early October and mid November. The goal of fall planting is to develop a strong and healthy plant before winter that will give the elephant garlic a strong start come spring.
SITE LOCATION:
Plant in the fall where it will get full sun until harvest (late spring). Ensure at least decent drainage; if the site is waterlogged for too long the plant may rot. Elephant garlic can survive in almost any soil. If you have heavy clay soil you should at least turn over and break up the clay as much as possible before planting, at least to a depth of 6 inches, and amend with compost if you have some. Refrain from stepping on or otherwise compressing the loosened soil as much as possible and cover with 4+ inches of mulch, which will shrink by about half over time. The mulch will decrease competition with grass, weeds, and other plants, and will improve the the soil.
SPACING:
9" to 12", depending on soil conditions. With nutrient dense soil and sufficient watering you can err on the closer side but will likely result in smaller bulbs. Plant an individual clove pointy side up at a depth of about 3 times the height of the clove.
PLANT CARE:
Just don't let the soil dry out. They're not really targeted by pests but if something starts munching on the leaves give it a light dusting of diatomaceous earth.
WINTER:
Elephant garlic will produce best if it is planted out for two consecutive growing seasons. This means it will need to be outside through the winter. As such, it can withstand light frosts without issue. Hard freezes may damage or kill the leaves even down to ground level but it will almost certainly grow back from the roots once it warms later. We've had garlic survive 10F and go on to produce great bulbs.
SPRING:
The elephant garlic will begin to grow at a rapid pace again, adding more leaves and the stem becoming thicker. The thickness of the stem can be used as a reference to how big the eventual bulb will be. Ensure the soil doesn't dry out completely. Eventually the plant will begin growing the flower which will become obvious as the stalk is more of a tube while the leaves are flat. If you plan to harvest the scapes then let them get at least a foot long before removing; any longer and the scapes will begin getting tougher. If you choose to let it flower the stalk will eventually grow between 3 and 5 feet tall.
HARVEST:
This should be in late spring but can vary depending on weather. For us it's usually the last week of May or the first week of June. The leaves will begin turning brown from the ground up and you'll want to wait until the bottom half has turned brown. When you're ready to harvest, grab the plant just above ground level and pull straight up, increasing force slowly until the bulb pulls up. If you pull too quickly you risk breaking the stalk and you'll have to dig it up.
STORAGE:
Allow the bulbs to air dry in a spot out of the elements and with decent ventilation. The elephant garlic is cured once the leaves are fully brown and dried, and the layers around the bulb are like thin paper. Cut the bulb from the stalk, clip off any remaining roots, and peel the first few layers of paper off the bulb to remove any remaining dirt.