Elephant Garlic is a rare variety that produces massive bulbs that can grow up to 4 inches in diameter, with a milder, sweeter flavor. Its large cloves are easy to peel, making meal preparation effortless, and can be roasted, sauteed, or used raw to add a gentle garlic flavor to dishes. Elephant Garlic has a striking visual appeal, with tall, elegant stalks and vibrant purple flower heads that attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Its hardy nature allows it to thrive in various climates and soil types, ensuring a reliable harvest year after year. Additionally, Elephant Garlic offers impressive storage capabilities, remaining fresh for months when stored properly. Elephant Garlic is an exceptional choice that never fails to impress! Growing garlic at home from bulbs is easy and rewarding. Each hardneck garlic clove can grow into a large bulb 4-6 times its weight, or 4-6 pounds of yield per pound of seed garlic planted, within one year of planting. Plant in Fall for a late Spring/early Summer harvest or plant in early Spring for a harvest in the same season. Also Known As: Giant Garlic, Oriental Garlic, Allium Ampeloprasum, Elephant Leek, Perennial Garlic. Plant Name: Garlic, Elephant Latin Name: Allium ampeloprasum Days to Germinate: 7-14 Days to Harvest: 240 (Fall Planting), 90 (Spring Planting) Plant Height: 3 - 4 Feet Spread: 12 - 18 Inches Growth Habit: Clumping USDA Zones: 3-9 Lifespan: Perennial Brand: TomorrowSeeds Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial Shade Pollination: Heirloom, Open-Pollinated GMO: No Fungicide-Treated Seeds*: No Seeds Packed For**: 2026 *Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds. **Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates. Planting Instructions: Soil Preparation: Choose an area with heavy, well-draining soil that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade or till the soil 8-12 inches deep. Loosening the soil will help the plant establish strong roots. Plants grow best in soil with lots of organic matter. You may optionally add fertilizer or organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay to mix into the soil at this point. For small gardens, scatter 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer evenly and work into the top 2-3 inches of soil for each hill or 2 foot by 2 foot planting area. For larger gardens, scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of planting area. Work fertilizer or organic material into the soil and leave the surface smooth. Form rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 12 inches apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage. Planting: Divide the bulb into individual cloves, leaving the papery skins on the cloves. Plant each clove with the narrow tip facing upwards 2 inches deep in soil. Try to plant cloves in well-drained soil rich in organic matter and full sun immediately after cracking the bulb into cloves. Plant Fall-planted garlic 4-6 weeks before the average first frost date for a harvest in Early Summer, about 240 days from planting. Apply 3 inches thick of mulch, such as dried grass, leaves, or straw, to best overwinter garlic. Remove mulch in Spring after the average first frost-free date to allow the soil to warm. Spring-planted garlic may not reach the same bulb size as if garlic were Fall-planted but can still produce good yields. Plant cloves when the soil reaches at least 55F for a harvest in the same season, about 90 days from planting. Planting Depth: 2 inch Within-Row Spacing: 6 inches Between-Row Spacing: 6-12 inches Care During the Season: Watering: Water the plants enough to keep them from wilting, about 1/2-inch to 1 inch of water per week in well-draining soil. If the weather is really dry, add supplemental water. Stop watering when 3 of the outermost leaves have yellowed and died because it is close to harvest time. Weeding: Keep plants as weed-free as possible, taking care not to damage the feeder rooters which may slow the plant's growth. Pruning: Garlic scapes, or the hardneck garlic flower stalk, will grow in late Spring/early Summer. Cut off garlic scapes to promote growth of bulbs by as much as 40%. Garlic scapes are a delicacy and can be used in many dishes. Fertilizing: After optionally applying initial fertilization in Fall, you may optionally side-dress with additional nitrogen fertilizer in Spring after initial plant growth. Water the plants after fertilizing. Insecticides: Though garlic is a natural pest repellent, insecticides may be used to protect plants. Bt-based insecticides and sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Before using a pesticide, read the label and follow cautions, warnings and directions. Diseases: If spots or mold appear, treat plants with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. When using fungicides always follow label directions. Harvesting: When the neck of the garlic stalk starts to brown, about 5 of the outermost leaves have died, about a few weeks after scaping, usually from late June - July, the garlic is ready to harvest. Pull a garlic plant and check for size. If cloves have formed and the bulbs are a good size, harvest the bulbs, shake off loose soil, and let dry in a shady area for 24 hours. Cure the bulbs by leaving in a dry environment for 2-4 weeks. Optionally, tie tops in bunches then allow bulbs to continue curing. Bulbs cured properly can be stored for 8-9 months.
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