Elephant Garlic

[rutters]

Just dug up one of the above. It's one massive clove!! I think that it's because I planted them after any cold snap which encourages them to divide. Anyway just thought what if I re-plant this giant bulb and leave it over-winter? will it then devide into massive cloves?

cheers

[rutters]

[real food]

I take it from your post that you planted it late, rather than in October, which is when elephant garlic should be planted. It needs a long growing season to give it time to divide. It will divide if you replant it for the next winter.

[Tee Gee]

I don't grow Elephant Garlic but I always understood that it doesn't form cloves like true garlic, i.e. the elephant variety is not a garlic, hence you getting a single bulb.

Perhaps someone can correct me if I am wrong!

[Fork]

"garlic for people who dont like garlic"..ie Elephant Garlic will divide into about 4 or 5 cloves normally.

[Hyacinth]

Back to the top!

Rutters, I've not grown elephant garlic which hasn't cloved, but my reading suggests that it's OK to plant the whole bulb late autumn........so.....late Oct/Nov.Time and this, then, should produce a 'cloved?' elephant garlic next year.....

BUT.....it seems an awful waste of a bulb!!!!! If you'd like to cook the thing you've got & plant a couple of cloves.......PM me.......we might, just might, be able to strike a deal.....

;D Lishka

[rutters]

Thanks for replying all

fao Alishka_Maxwell
I don't have any cloves but if this thing divides I'll send you a couple next year.

cheers

[OllieC]

I have a rather controversial view on Elephant Garlic. I think it tastes like a not very nice Leek. Just wanted to get that out of my system really. Thanks.

[Robert_Brenchley]

It's extremely mild, but it's good as an addition to onion for a soup or a stew. I tend to use a whole bulb at a time.

[real food]

It is also very good for roasting. I think that it is an excellent vegetable as it is so hardy. It will also store for at least a year. People who have problems growing true garlic, usually find that they can grow elephant garlic. I do not know of any pests or diseases that effect it.

[Fork]

I have a rather controversial view on Elephant Garlic. I think it tastes like a not very nice Leek. Just wanted to get that out of my system really. Thanks.

Well elephant garlic is more akin to the leek than it is to proper garlic.

[cambourne7]

Just dug up one of the above. It's one massive clove!! I think that it's because I planted them after any cold snap which encourages them to divide. Anyway just thought what if I re-plant this giant bulb and leave it over-winter? will it then devide into massive cloves?

cheers

What you have grown is in fact on of my fav garlics, this is called solo garlic and costs quite a bit in the shops. I contacted the garlic farm and this is what they told me to do in order to grow solo garlic. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solo_garlic

Solo garlic is grown by taking a bulb of garlic in the summer of its harvest and ensuring its temperature never falls below 70F/17C. In the UK plant in May and you will probably get solo garlic. This is usually grown in India where the right conditions are easier to achieve. Some types of garlic are better than others. Elephant Garlic will regularly do this even in the UK from a spring planting. Regards Colin

As it worked out i planted normal garlic in 2 batches one before christmas and one after, the garlic planted before christmas formed normaly and the garlic planted after ( which is still in the ground and growing ) when cut open by slicing the top and botton off are lots of little cloves which dont yet have the papery cover on cloves so not quite solo garlic.

[rutters]

thanks for that..what do you think I could do with it now?

cheers

[Robert_Brenchley]

If you only want to use a little at a time, chop it, blend with some water, and make ice cubes out of it. Use one whenever you cook.

[rutters]

can I re-plant? Will it divide?

cheers

[Robert_Brenchley]

Allegedly, if you leave it over winter. I've never tried it.

[rutters]

just emptied the container completely and there's some little sprouting cloves in there..what's going on?

cheers

[Fork]

can I re-plant? Will it divide?

cheers

Apparently the more you replant it the more chance of it dividing into cloves.

[Hyacinth]

can I re-plant? Will it divide?

cheers

and again....

Rutters, I've not grown elephant garlic which hasn't cloved, but my reading suggests that it's OK to plant the whole bulb late autumn........so.....late Oct/Nov.Time and this, then, should produce a 'cloved?' elephant garlic next year.....

[rutters]

thanks