Elephant garlic is a unique and tasty variety of garlic that produces enormous bulbs with large cloves. It has a mild, sweet flavor that makes it versatile to use in cooking. If you want to grow your own elephant garlic, you’ll need to source high quality elephant garlic seed bulbs or individual cloves. Here’s what you need to know about buying elephant garlic seeds for your home garden.
What is Elephant Garlic?
Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) is actually more closely related to leeks than regular garlic. It belongs to the same species as leeks and has a similar mild, sweet taste when raw or cooked.
The bulbs of elephant garlic are much larger than regular garlic, averaging 3-6 inches in diameter and weighing up to a pound each The cloves are also very large Elephant garlic has a thick layer of papery white outer skins that enclose around 6-12 cloves per bulb.
When cooked, the flavor is aromatic but delicate, lacking the pungency and heat of regular garlic It can be used raw or cooked in any way you’d use traditional garlic. The mild taste even makes it suitable to use raw in dressings, dips and spreads.
Where to Buy Elephant Garlic Seeds
Since elephant garlic is grown as an annual crop, you’ll need to source new seeds every year to plant in fall for a summer harvest. Here are some reputable sources to buy elephant garlic seeds online:
Small Farm and Garden Suppliers
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Filaree Garlic Farm – Offers certified organic elephant garlic seed bulbs and cloves shipped in fall planting window.
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BJ Gourmet Garlic – Specialty garlic farm selling elephant garlic seed bulbs to plant in home gardens.
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The Garlic Farm – Elephant garlic seed available in bulk sizes up to 10 pound bags.
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The Garlic Store – Sells individual elephant garlic bulbs and pounds of cloves for fall planting.
Online Seed Companies
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Burpee – Elephant garlic bulbs shipped in fall at proper planting time.
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Jung Seed – Reputable source for elephant garlic seed bulbs and cloves.
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Gurney’s Seed & Nursery – Elephant garlic seed bulbs available in bundles of 3 or 5.
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Henry Fields Seed & Nursery – Sells elephant garlic seed bulbs in multiples for home gardeners.
Local Garden Centers
Check with local nurseries and garden stores in your area in late summer and early fall. Some will carry elephant garlic seed bulbs in stock for planting, but varieties are limited.
What to Look for When Buying Elephant Garlic Seeds
Since elephant garlic is usually sold as full bulbs or separated cloves, here are some tips for selecting high quality seeds:
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Choose large, intact bulbs with thick outer wrappers intact. Avoid bulbs with missing skins or signs of shriveling.
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Bulbs should feel firm and heavy for their size with no soft spots when gently squeezed.
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Closely examine bulbs and individual cloves for any evidence of mold, lesions, or damage.
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Pick plump, healthy looking cloves with intact skins. Avoid very small cloves.
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Opt for certified organic seed when possible to avoid garlic grown with chemical pesticides.
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Consider locally grown elephant garlic, as it will be best adapted to your climate.
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For peak freshness, buy seed as close to planting time in fall as possible. The fresher, the better!
How Much Elephant Garlic Seed to Buy
Since elephant garlic bulbs are so large, you need less seed to plant than you would for regular garlic. Here are some guidelines for amounts to purchase:
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For a small garden – For a 10 foot row, buy 3-5 bulbs which will provide 12-20 cloves to plant 4-6 inches apart in the row.
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**For a medium garden ** – For a 25 foot row, get 10-12 bulbs which will yield 50-60 planting cloves spaced 4-6 inches apart.
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For a large garden – For a 50 foot row, buy 20-25 bulbs to plant 100-150 cloves spaced 4-6 inches down the row.
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General rule – Each elephant garlic bulb will yield 5-10 planting cloves on average. Calculate how many 4-6 inch spaced cloves you need for the row feet you want to plant.
No matter what amount of seed you buy, be sure to store the bulbs in a cool, dry place until it’s time to separate and plant the cloves in fall. With proper planting and care, those elephant garlic seeds will produce a bountiful harvest!
How to Plant Elephant Garlic Seeds
Once you have your elephant garlic seed bulbs or cloves, follow these tips for planting in your garden:
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Timing – Plant in early-mid fall about 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes.
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Sun – Choose a spot that will get full sun – at least 6 hours per day.
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Soil – Garlic thrives in loose, well-drained soil enriched with compost.
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Planting depth – Set cloves 2-3 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart down the row.
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Set cloves root-side down – The wide, flat end that was attached to the bulb should be on the bottom.
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Cover lightly with soil – Don’t pack the ground too firmly over the planted cloves.
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Water thoroughly after planting – Keep soil moist, but not saturated as the shoots and roots develop.
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Mulch – Add a 2-3 inch layer of straw or leaves over the planted rows to retain moisture and insulate during winter months.
With attentive watering and weeding, you’ll be harvesting enormous elephant garlic bulbs from those seeds next summer!
When and How to Harvest Elephant Garlic
Here’s what to expect when it’s time to reap your homegrown elephant garlic:
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Days to maturity – Elephant garlic is slow growing. Expect around 200 days from planting to harvest.
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Harvest timing – Bulbs are ready in mid-late summer when about half of the leaves have turned yellow.
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** Harvesting method** – When ready, carefully dig bulbs with a garden fork, keeping skins intact. Avoid pulling or tugging.
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Curing – Let harvested bulbs cure for 2-3 weeks in a warm, dry, shaded spot before storing or consuming. Curing intensifies the flavor.
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Storage – Keep cured bulbs in a cool (65°F), dry place with good air circulation. They will store for 6-8 months.
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Yields – On average, expect 7-10 pounds of bulbs per 10 feet of planted row, depending on soil quality and growing conditions.
Enjoy Growing and Eating Delicious Elephant Garlic
Soil Preparation and Planting:
- Add organic matter to the soil to make it fertile and allow water to drain well.
- Take the cloves off of the elephant garlic bulb and plant each one on its own, with the pointed end facing up.
- Plant the cloves in rows that are at least 12 inches apart and 4 to 6 inches apart and 2 inches deep.
Growing Seasons and Care:
- Elephant garlic has two growing seasons: a vegetative stage that starts in early fall and lasts through winter, and a reproductive stage that lasts through spring and summer.
- Water the plants regularly so that the soil stays moist but not soaked.
- Putting mulch around plants helps keep the soil moist and stops weeds from growing.
Harvesting MASSIVE Elephant Garlic & My Top 3 Growing Tips
FAQ
What month do you plant elephant garlic?
Does elephant garlic come back every year?
Is elephant garlic easy to grow?
Can I plant elephant garlic from the grocery store?
What is elephant garlic?
Elephant Garlic: Allium ampeloprasum Not a true garlic, these enormous bulbs have much milder and sweeter flavor than garlic, as it’s related more closely to a leek. Elephant garlic is planted 6-8 inches apart and covered with 4-6 inches of soil. Late-season. These huge cloves produce softball-sized heads.
How much do elephant garlic bulbs weigh?
Enormous bulbs weigh up to 1 lb.! Has a milder, mellower flavor. Elephant garlic prefers a long, cool growing season and is best planted in early fall. The larger the planted clove, the larger the bulb it will produce, and these cloves are huge. You’ll harvest enormous bulbs that are up to 4″ wide and 3″ long! Delicious mild flavor.
When should elephant garlic be planted?
Elephant garlic prefers a long, cool growing season and is best planted in early fall. The larger the planted clove, the larger the bulb it will produce, and these cloves are huge. Youll harvest enormous bulbs that are up to 4″ wide and 3″ long!
How long does elephant garlic take to grow?
If your elephant garlic bulbs are planted in the fall, expect a longer growth period and a harvest after ~240 days. This variety of garlic is easy to cultivate, needing loose, organic, and well-drained soil and full sunlight for the duration of it’s growth. Once you harvest elephant garlic, how can you use it in the kitchen?