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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: rutters on August 06, 2007, 18:30:33

Title: Elephant Garlic
Post by: rutters on August 06, 2007, 18:30:33
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
Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: real food on August 06, 2007, 18:39:10
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.
Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: Tee Gee on August 06, 2007, 19:26:45
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!
Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: Fork on August 06, 2007, 19:34:29
"garlic for people who dont like garlic"..ie Elephant Garlic will divide into about 4 or 5 cloves normally.
Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: Hyacinth on August 06, 2007, 21:04:42
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

Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: rutters on August 06, 2007, 21:10:53
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
Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: OllieC on August 06, 2007, 21:32:26
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.
Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on August 06, 2007, 23:37:54
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.
Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: real food on August 07, 2007, 19:34:11
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.
Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: Fork on August 07, 2007, 19:50:42
Quote from: OllieC on August 06, 2007, 21:32:26
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.
Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: cambourne7 on August 07, 2007, 19:51:32
Quote from: rutters on August 06, 2007, 18:30:33
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.
Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: rutters on August 07, 2007, 22:59:02
thanks for that..what do you think I could do with it now?

cheers
Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on August 08, 2007, 10:57:02
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.
Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: rutters on August 08, 2007, 11:04:13
can I re-plant? Will it divide?

cheers
Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on August 08, 2007, 12:07:06
Allegedly, if you leave it over winter. I've never tried it.
Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: rutters on August 08, 2007, 12:55:47
just emptied the container completely and there's some little sprouting cloves in there..what's going on?

cheers
Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: Fork on August 08, 2007, 14:49:52
Quote from: rutters on August 08, 2007, 11:04:13
can I re-plant? Will it divide?

cheers

Apparently the more you replant it the more chance of it dividing into cloves.
Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: Hyacinth on August 09, 2007, 15:59:26
Quote from: rutters on August 08, 2007, 11:04:13
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.....


Title: Re: Elephant Garlic
Post by: rutters on August 09, 2007, 16:02:07
thanks