Elephant Garlic – Key Differences For Gardeners

Hardneck and softneck garlic require cold temperatures to form cloves; however, elephant garlic doesn’t. As with real garlic however, elephant garlic must still be cured after harvest in your vegetable garden.

Attractively aged garlic bulbs can be achieved by placing the bulbs in a dark and cool environment for several weeks or months, helping develop hard skinned bulbs with easier peeling characteristics.

1. The Cloves Are Larger

Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum), unlike regular garlic (Allium sativum), features multiple cloves within each bulb and boasts a milder taste similar to that of leeks or scallions.

Elephant garlic may resemble traditional garlic plants, but its origins lie more with garden leeks. Nevertheless, this hybrid became widely favored due to its large size and milder flavor compared to actual garlic varieties. Furthermore, elephant garlic is less likely to succumb to basal rot and has higher concentrations of allicin.

Because elephant garlic requires a long, cool growing season, it should typically be planted in fall and harvested approximately eight months later. While planting in spring may result in smaller harvests.

No matter the climate or gardening conditions, growing bulbs is ideal. Their easy cultivation even novice gardeners can experience success! When planting, place each clove pointy side up into the soil 6-8 inches apart with each watering cycle allowing the top inch of soil to dry out between watering sessions. In springtime when matured plants begin blooming again, trim back their tall green scapes so their energy can focus solely on producing bulbs rather than sprawling plant parts like grasses.

2. The Storage Life Is Shorter

Unpeeled elephant garlic will remain fresh for several months when stored in the refrigerator, or several years when frozen. Unlike regular garlic, elephant garlic doesn’t need to be blanched or cooked to remove its pungent taste; you can enjoy eating it raw as salad greens or in recipes calling for regular garlic. Although you should consume it quickly.

Elephant garlic’s robust structure makes it an excellent addition to vegetable gardens. A relatively easy plant, elephant garlic produces larger bulbs with more cloves than standard varieties and can even be planted earlier in the season, yielding a harvest by summer.

Growing elephant garlic in containers is an enjoyable way to maximize limited garden space. This resilient veggie thrives in containers and requires minimal care – you can grow it using soil combinations such as potting mix, compost, perlite or vermiculite for drainage.

Once your plants’ leaves begin to turn yellow and die back, harvest time has arrived. Elephant garlic should be harvested by loosening its soil and carefully pulling out. Following harvesting, bulbs must be stored in a warm and dry environment for three weeks for proper storage purposes.

3. The Flavor Is Milder

Elephant garlic stands out in terms of flavor by being milder than regular garlic varieties, having more of a leek-like aroma when cooked than onions do, making it an excellent addition to dishes calling for lots of garlic.

Elephant garlic may resemble an oversized version of garden leeks; both belong to the Allium family but do not share genetic links; garden leeks (Allium sativum) belong to one species while elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) more closely resembles that found among garden leeks.

This unusual vegetable is a perennial plant, meaning that it will keep producing year after year in any garden given adequate care and water. Additionally, its hardiness means it can survive harsh winter weather conditions without suffering damage. Each spring it produces edible flower heads known as scapes; to encourage it to focus its energy on developing its bulb instead, any or all scapes should be cut back as soon as they appear.

As garlic grows, its plant forms a large bulb containing many cloves that yield its unique flavor to countless dishes such as soups, stews and casseroles. Roasting of this nutrient-rich crop has become increasingly popular. When selecting organically-grown varieties for purchase and storage purposes (unpeeled garlic should last in the refrigerator up to two months or frozen longer), make sure they’re stored correctly so as to enjoy its benefits for an extended timeframe.

4. The Plant Is Easy To Grow

Garlic plants are generally straightforward to cultivate when grown under optimal conditions, and garlic varieties perform best when planted during either fall or spring plantings. Full sun locations with well-drained soil that has an ideal pH between 6-7 and is loosely packed with organic matter are recommended; additionally, regular fertilization will ensure maximum crop production over its growing period.

Plants themselves tend to be quite resilient and few pests present, though onion fly can wreak havoc with your crop. Mulching may help ward off this annoying insect as can regular hoeing of soil.

Once harvested, bulbs need to be stored for three to eight weeks in a cool, dark area before curing for maximum flavor and storage longevity. By curing garlic it will gain fuller flavor as well as increase its storage life.

Consider your climate and what flavor profile you desire when selecting which variety of garlic to grow. Hardneck and elephant garlic work well in most climates; softneck may be better in very cold regions due to less cold weather needed for its cloves to stratify and form.