Elephant Garlic

Is bigger better? Elephant Garlic (Allium ampeloprasum 'Elephant') proves that this is likely the case. This unique garlic variety produces massive cloves with a mild flavor. Want to make friends with vampires? Elephant Garlic adds well-rounded garlic flavor to your dishes without leaving you with garlic breath that would scare vampires from miles away. In fact, Elephant garlic isn't a true garlic, it's actually a leek!

This voluminous garlic produces cloves that are several inches in size. Each head of Elephant Garlic has tan papery skin like that of an onion and golden brown peels that cover each clove. These heads are comprised of just a handful of cloves, often two or three.

Roasted Elephant Garlic is perfect for a date night in. Its dramatic size makes it a beautiful feature that can be roasted until soft and sliced or spread on bread with olive oil and a variety of herbs. Elephant Garlic also pairs well with vegetable-heavy dishes like stir fry or ratatouille.

Elephant Garlic performs best when separated into individual cloves and planted in the fall of the year. Plant this well-performing garlic in full sun with well drained soil. Remember to space out the individual cloves so each plant can develop in a 3-4 inch area. Put the root side down and pointed side up into the loosened soil and cover with an inch or two of soil. Water during dry spells and harvest when the foliage browns and wilts.

Each clove will develop roots and grow from fall into winter right up until the soil freezes. In the spring, your garlic plants will start growing early and strong. Depending upon location, these nice and large bulbs are usually available to harvest around the month of July.

After harvesting, you can store your Elephant Garlic in a cool, dry location. They will last for several months and still taste fresh.

Bigger truly is better. For a pachyderm's worth of mild and nutty garlic flavor, plan to plant your own crop of Elephant Garlic this fall.