Elephant Garlic (Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum)
11 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Plant
- Early October to late November
- Ready in
- 365–730 days
- Site
- soil pH 6–6.5
- Biggest risk
- Allium white rot
In the UK, elephant garlic go in the ground early October to late November, and are ready to harvest 365–730 days after planting.
Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum) — Herbaceous perennial grown as a biennial-style crop.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.
At a Glance
Quick Facts
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6 - 6.5 |
| Optimal growing temp | 18-24C |
| Minimum survivable temp | -5C |
| Time to harvest | 365-730 days |
| Drainage | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand; moist but well-drained or well-drained; avoid heavy clay prone to winter saturation (grow in containers if so) |
| Lifecycle | Herbaceous perennial grown as a biennial-style crop: cloves are planted in autumn, overwinter (they need a cold period), and are harvested the following summer. Fully frost-hardy (H6); very often left to flower and to form offsets if not lifted. |
| Edible parts | bulb (cloves) |
Regional Planting Calendar
| Region | Sow |
|---|---|
| Southern England | early October to late November |
| Midlands derived | early October to mid November |
| Northern England derived | late September to early November |
| Scotland derived | mid September to late October |
Rows marked derived are interpolated between regions our sources do state, because no source we consulted gives a figure for that region specifically. They are deliberately wider to reflect that uncertainty.
Southern England - detail & sources
Plant elephant garlic cloves in autumn - RHS says it is "best planted in October" - so it gets the winter cold it needs; mild southern gardens can plant on into late autumn. Cloves are lifted the following summer once the leaves yellow. Spring planting is possible but gives smaller bulbs.
Midlands - detail & sources
DERIVED: as in the south, plant cloves in October, but finish a little sooner than the mildest areas so plants establish before winter (Met Office south-to-north gradient).
Northern England - detail & sources
DERIVED: plant from late September into October, a little earlier than the south, so cloves root well before hard frosts arrive (Met Office south-to-north gradient). Fully hardy (H6), elephant garlic overwinters well in the north.
Scotland - detail & sources
DERIVED: plant the earliest of all, from mid-September to late October, as Scotland cools soonest (Met Office); good drainage matters most here, as elephant garlic dislikes cold, wet winter ground - grow in containers on heavy soil.
Soil & Growing Conditions
Growth Stages
| Stage | BBCH | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Planting & Establishment | 0 | Elephant garlic is grown from individual cloves, planted in autumn - RHS advises it is "best planted in October" - so it gets the winter cold it needs and a long growing season. PLANTING DEPTH & SPACING: split the bulb into cloves and plant each one upright (pointed end up) so the tip sits about 2.5cm (1in) below the soil surface; the RHS garlic spacing is 15cm (6in) between cloves in rows 30cm (12in) apart, but because elephant garlic grows so large (up to 1-1.5m tall) many gardeners give it more room, around 20-30cm apart. In light soil, deeper planting can give bigger bulbs, but do not plant deep in heavy soil. Choose a sunny, open site on fertile, free-draining ground; on cold, wet clay grow it in large containers instead. Roots establish before winter. |
| Leaf Growth | 3 | Through winter and spring the clove grows into a tall, leek-like plant with broad blue-green leaves. Keep the bed weed-free so the plants are not crowded, and water in prolonged dry spells in spring. Feed only if the soil is poor. In early summer the plant throws up a tall flower stalk (scape) - cut this out as soon as it appears (and eat it, sauteed or roasted) so the plant puts its energy into the bulb rather than flowering. |
| Bulb Development | 7 | Through early to mid-summer the base swells into a large bulb that divides into a few very large cloves, sometimes with small hard "cormel" offsets around the outside. Ease off watering as the leaves begin to yellow so the skins firm and the bulb stores well. Keep weeding lightly; no further feeding is needed. |
| Harvest & Curing | 8 | Lift the bulbs once the leaves have turned yellow - for autumn-planted elephant garlic this is usually in mid- to late summer, after a long season (roughly 9-10 months from planting). Ease each bulb up gently with a fork rather than pulling, on a dry day. Dry (cure) the bulbs for two to four weeks in a warm, airy place until the skins are papery, then store them somewhere cool and dry at about 5-10C, where they keep for several months. Save the largest cloves and any cormel offsets to replant the following autumn. |
Harvest & Storage
Diseases
Pests
Elephant Garlic, Clove to Harvest
References
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Tier 1. Primary growing source: elephant garlic "best planted in October", needs a long warm season and a cold period; plant cloves tip 2.5cm below the surface, 15cm apart in rows 30cm; remove scapes as they form; harvest when leaves yellow; cure 2-4 weeks; store at 5-10C.
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Tier 1. Species/cultivar profile: full sun, fertile well-drained soil; fully hardy (H6); 1-1.5m tall; matures in 1-2 years; propagated by cloves and offsets.
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Tier 1. Species profile for Allium ampeloprasum, the species elephant garlic belongs to.
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Tier 1. Host-specific: serious soil-borne disease of onions, garlic (incl. elephant garlic) and leeks; sclerotia survive 15+ years; no chemical control for gardeners.
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Tier 1. Peronospora destructor foliar disease of alliums favoured by cool, wet, humid weather.
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Tier 1. Host-specific pest: larvae mine leaves; secondary rots make the crop inedible; widespread across England since 2002.
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Tier 1. Host-specific pest of alliums: caterpillars mine leaves and bulbs; mainly southern/eastern England and spreading.
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Tier 1. Host-specific pest: maggots damage roots and bulbs of alliums; most damaging June-July.
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Tier 1. Host-specific pest (Ditylenchus dipsaci): causes swollen, distorted "bloat" growth; persists in soil and on cloves.
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Tier 1. UK climate context for the south-to-north gradient used to derive regional autumn planting windows.
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Tier 1. International agronomic ranges (temperature, pH) for the Allium ampeloprasum group.
11 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I sow elephant garlic in the UK?
In southern England, from early October. In northern England and Scotland, wait until late September. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.
When do I sow elephant garlic?
Sow early October to late November.
How long do elephant garlic take to grow?
Typically 365–730 days, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.
What soil pH do elephant garlic need?
A pH of about 6–6.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
What problems affect elephant garlic?
Our data links 2 diseases and 4 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.
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Tools That Help With This Crop
Use these links when the guide moves from reading into sowing, planting, watering, and keeping the crop healthy.
Plan the next step
Use the printable UK Vegetable Garden Planner to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts, and weekly garden tasks.