Botanical Name: Allium ampeloprasum cultivated variety “Elephant Garlic”. From the Greek ampelo = vine, and prasum = leek. Ampeloprasum = vine leek = wild leek = sand leek. Allium ampeloprasum contains hundreds of botanical varieties. “Elephant Garlic” is one of these.

Botanical Family: Amaryllidaceae = Amaryllis Family. Elephant Garlic is in the same botanical family as chives, common garlic, leeks, onions, ramps, and shallots.

Common Names: Bulb Leek = Cyprian Garlic = Elephant Garlic = Giant Garlic = Great Garlic = Great-Headed Garlic = Tahiti Garlic = Ulpicum (Latin).

Origin: Giant garlic was known to both the Greeks and Romans, so its origin is lost in the “mists of history”. Wild populations of giant garlic are unknown so this variety probably exists only in cultivation. Most species of wild leeks are found in Turkey, Iran (Persia), and Afghanistan, so this area might be the center of origin or domestication. Luther Burbank introduced a variety of giant garlic in his 1920 seed catalog. The name “Elephant Garlic” was first registered by Jim Nichols of Nichols Garden Nursery (1136 Main Street, Philomath, Oregon 97370) in 1953. Most elephant garlic grown in the United States is genetically similar to giant garlic cultivated in central and eastern Europe.

Varieties: There are no commercial hybrids or named varieties of elephant garlic. Available propagation materials are unimproved “landraces” = “farmers varieties”.

Culinary Description: Elephant garlic is closely related to leek and has a similar mild flavor. Leaves and stems (when young) are edible and used like chives or scallions (green onions).

Pollination: Elephant Garlic is self-incompatible = cross pollinated. Seed production is difficult — all of the bulbils must be removed from the flower heads to force the plant to set seeds. Many seeds are sterile or will not germinate.

Adaptation: Elephant garlic may be grown in most any temperate climate with a frost-free growing season of approximately 4 months = 120 days. Elephant garlic is cold hardy to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. In severely cold climates protect bulbs with 8 inches of mulch and cloches, cold frames, plastic tunnels, or greenhouses.

Vernalization: Elephant garlic has a minimum “chilling requirement” of 6 weeks at temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If gardening in sub-tropical climates, store bulbs in a refrigerator for at least 42 days before planting. Plants that are not properly chilled will not form bulbs.

Propagation: Elephant garlic is most commonly increased by separating mature (2-year-old) bulbs into cloves. Cloves planted in late Autumn form giant bulbs the following Summer. Cloves planted in Spring produce smaller round bulbs without cloves. Bulbils (tiny bulbs in flower heads) and corms (tiny underground bulblets) can also be planted but these will not grow large the first year. It takes 3 years to produce giant bulbs from bulbils or corms. (First year bulbs are small and round, without cloves. Second year bulbs are larger. Third year bulbs are “giants” and form cloves). Elephant garlic is a biennial plant = it grows leaves the first year and flowers the second year. In a flower garden, elephant garlic is often treated as a perennial; divide clumps with a sharp knife when plants get too crowded.

Leaf Shape: Elephant garlic has broad, flat leaves 1 to 3 inches wide (unlike onions that have hollow, tubular foliage).

Height: Average plants grow 2 to 3 feet tall. Exceptional specimens may reach 4 to 5 feet high when grown under ideal conditions.

Flower Type: Elephant garlic has a spherical umbel comprised of many tiny flowers. Typical flower heads may contain 50 to 100 florets.

Flower Color: Purple is the most common flower color. Lavender, pink, and white flowers are rare = not often seen.

Bulb Color: White.

Bulb Size: 3 to 4 inches diameter = approximately 9 to 12 inches circumference. Largest bulbs are big like a softball.

Bulb Weight: Mature bulbs average 5 to 8 ounces when grown in fields. Elephant garlic planted in raised beds is heavier = up to 1 pound. Under ideal conditions, elephant garlic bulbs may reach 3 pounds.

Clove Weight: Average cloves weigh 1.14 to 2.0 ounces each = 8 to 14 cloves per pound. Enormous cloves can reach nearly 4 ounces.

Planting Date: Plant elephant garlic the first week of November. Planting earlier or later decreases bulb size significantly.

Planting Depth: Handle cloves gently to avoid damage. Set cloves pointy end up, 4 to 6 inches deep.

Days to Maturity: 180 to 240 days for Autumn planted elephant garlic. In Austria, we figure on 8 months from planting to harvest. Elephant garlic planted in the first week of November will normally mature by the last week in June. (In warmer climates elephant garlic may ripen in 7 or 7 months). Spring planted elephant garlic matures in 90 days but the bulbs are smaller and will not form cloves.

Spacing: In raised beds plant elephant garlic 1 foot apart equidistantly. Wide spacing is necessary to promote maximum air flow for disease control. In open fields, set cloves 8 inches apart in rows spaced 14 to 18 inches apart.

Plant Density: 208 rows per acre x 208 plants per row = 43,264 plants per acre at 1 foot equidistant spacing. Practical density = 20,000 to 22,000 bulbs per acre when grown in raised beds. (Aisles between beds take about half of available land). In open fields, elephant garlic is planted more densely: 8 inches in row spacing x 14 inches between row spacing = 178 rows per acre x 469 plants per row = 83,482 plants per acre = 0.52 square feet per plant = 8.66 inches x 8.66 inches equidistant spacing (maximum density).

Agronomy Note: Growers can manage for large bulbs OR high yields, not both. For large bulbs, space widely in raised beds. For high yields, space closely in fields.

Rooting System: Elephant garlic has coarse, shallow roots that rarely grow deeper than 8 inches where soils are plowed. Plants rely on symbiotic fungi to supply water and minerals.

Soil: Elephant garlic grows best in deep soils with plentiful organic matter (to encourage maximum growth of beneficial fungi). Raised beds should be at least 18 inches deep for commercial production, especially in dry climates. (Soil volume is directly related to crop yield. More soil = bigger harvests).

Soil Mix: 3 parts topsoil + 3 parts peat moss or compost + 3 parts well-rotted bark or decayed wood chips + 1 part coarse sand or similar drainage material = 10 total parts by volume. The key is to have sufficient coarse materials (bark, chips, sand) to provide maximum aeration and drainage. Low sand content makes this mixture “earthworm friendly”.

Beneficial Fungi: “Good farmers grow fungi. The fungi grow the crops”. Cool temperatures (deep mulch) + constant moisture (drip irrigation is ideal) + plenty of air (lots of coarse materials for drainage) + organic matter (compost or manure) = enormous populations of symbiotic fungi. More fungi = happy plants = higher yields.

Drainage: Elephant garlic will not tolerate “wet feet”. Trench fields or plant on top of the ground where soils are dense and heavy.

Earthworms: Elephant garlic grows best in soils with large earthworm populations = 48 worms per cubic foot = 2,000,000 earthworms per acre. Earthworms do not like sand or gravel. For best results, soils should not contain more than 10% to 13% sand by volume = 1 inch of sand mixed with 8 to 10 inches of topsoil. Earthworms eat organic matter. Manage soils for maximum carbon content: Plant cover crops; mulch deeply; use organic fertilizers like manure and compost.

Mulch: Elephant garlic does not compete well against weeds. Do not cultivate soils; tillage encourages weed growth. Instead, apply 8 inches of loose mulch. This settles to about 4 inches deep in a few weeks. For best results use wet or shredded tree leaves or other organic materials like rotted wood chips, composted bark, spoiled hay, green chop (weeds), or pine needles. If any wees poke through the mulch, smother them with more mulch. Pull aside mulch just enough to set cloves in the ground. When plants are well established tuck mulch close to their stems.

How to Make Compost: 6 parts brown plant materials + 4 parts green plant materials or manure = 10 total parts by volume. For best results, shred leaves, bark, and wood chips before composting. Spread materials 1 foot = 12 inches deep over soil surface. Large quantities can be mixed with a rear-tine rototiller. Cold composting is essential for success. Do not exceed 1 foot depth or compost will heat up and become anaerobic. Cover compost with burlap or landscape fabric to provide shade. In hot weather, mist surface 5 minutes daily to keep compost moist. Let materials rot 1 full year before use. Finished product meets biological farming standards for “low temperature, aerobic, fungal-dominant compost”.

Agronomy Note: For long-term storage, broadcast cover crop seed mix over compost surface. Live roots feed soil micro-organisms and keep compost biologically active.

Fertilizer: Elephant garlic thrives in rich soils that contain about 150 pounds each of available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium per acre. A cover crop of clover supplies all of the nutrients required, or apply 1 inch of composted cow manure = 135 cubic yards per acre or approximately 1/2 gallon = 2.5 pounds (wet weight) per square foot. 4 dairy or beef cows produce sufficient manure and bedding to make compost for 1 acre. If compost is not available, spread fresh manure then cover with mulch to prevent flies and odor. Is is good practice to use organic fertilizers whenever practical. Chemical fertilizers kill soil bacteria and repel earthworms. If you must use synthetic fertilizers, apply these in small amounts throughout the growing season. Sprinkle fertilizers over the mulch. Rain will wash nutrients through the mulch into the soil.

Lime: Elephant garlic grows best in slightly acidic soils = pH 6.5 to 6.8. Broadcast 1/2 to 1 ton of agricultural limestone, wood ash, or crushed shells per acre, yearly = approximately 1/3 to 3/4 ounce per square foot.

Irrigation: Elephant garlic needs 1 inch of rainfall or irrigation weekly or bulbs will be small.

Pruning: Remove flower stalks so bulbs grow larger.

Insect Control: Interplant elephant garlic with other crops. Plant mixtures repel insect pests. Alternate raised beds with botanically unrelated species. Sow at least 8 different crops per acre in narrow strips or raised beds. Seed wildflowers around fields and every 10th row. Plants may also be protected with gauze, cheesecloth, mosquito netting, window screening, or floating row covers.

Old Farmers’ Trick: Sprinkle a few carrot seeds around each elephant garlic bulb. Carrots and garlic protect each other from insect pests. This technique also works with onions.

Disease Control: Elephant garlic is especially susceptible to soil diseases. Always plant elephant garlic on new land. Use 7-year rotations. Do not precede or follow garlic with botanically related species: Chives, leeks, onions, ramps, or shallots. Trench fields or grow bulbs on top of the ground to ensure good drainage. Space plants widely for maximum sunlight and ventilation.

Wildlife Control: Most “critters” do not like the smell or taste of elephant garlic. Deer, rabbits, and voles will NOT eat elephant garlic, so animal control is rarely a problem in gardens or commercial vegetable farms.

Windbreaks: Install windbreaks every 50 feet to protect plants from sand blasting and storm damage. Burlap, corn stalks, old seed bags, landscape fabric, or similar materials are ideal for this purpose.

Shade: In desert climates, plant elephant garlic under palm trees or light shade cloth to prevent sunburn.

Harvest: Pull bulbs when plants are half-dead = 50% yellow. Cut off roots then use a soft brush to remove excess dirt from bulbs. Handle bulbs gently; damaged bulbs rot in storage. Do not wash bulbs or they will rot. Dry bulbs on screens or hang like socks on a line for maximum ventilation. Always dry garlic in the shade; sunburned bulbs will rot. The curing (drying) process takes 4 to 8 weeks depending on temperature, humidity, and prevailing winds. If weather is rainy, use fans to prevent mold growth.

Yield: 1 giant bulb per square foot of planting surface. A raised bed measuring 3 feet x 10 feet = 30 square feet of usable surface area = 30 bulbs or about 30 pounds of elephant garlic, maximum weight. Yields in open fields are highly variable: 6,000 to 11,000 pounds per acre (dryland) or 10,000 to 15,000 pounds per acre (irrigated fields).

Agronomy Note: Closely spaced cloves planted in open fields yield many smaller bulbs, 5 to 8 ounces each. Cloves widely spaced in raised beds yield fewer but larger bulbs, 8 to 16 ounces each. In the United States, there is no national standard for size or weight of elephant garlic. Each grower must decide “How big is an Elephant Garlic bulb”?

Rule-of-Thumb: Yield of elephant garlic = 4 to 7 times weight of cloves planted. 4x = low yield. 7x = high yield. 5x to 6x = average yield. Example: 2,000 pounds of cloves planted in open fields should produce 8,000 to 14,000 pounds of bulbs.

Storage: Keep elephant garlic in a cool, dry, shaded place with good air flow. Ideal storage temperature = 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Bulbs may be braided and hung from ceilings or rafters as convenient. Well-cured elephant garlic will keep 10 months in a common household kitchen.

Would You Like to Know More? For more information on biological farming and vegetable crops, please visit: http://www.worldagriculturesolutions.com — or — send your questions to: Eric Koperek, Editor, World Agriculture Solutions, 413 Cedar Drive, Moon Township, Pennsylvania 15108 United States of America — or — send an e-mail to: worldagriculturesolutions@gmail.com.

About the Author: Mr. Koperek is a plant breeder who farms in Pennsylvania during summer and Florida over winter. (Growing 2 crops yearly speeds development of new plant varieties).

Index Terms: Elephant Garlic (Allium ampeloprasum).

Publication Date: July 2023, Homestead, Florida.