Elephant Garlic is not a true garlic; it’s actually a perennial member of the leek family. It produces a large beautiful allium head.
Above ground, its bluish-green leaves resemble grass, and can grow up to 3 feet (1 metre) tall.
The bulbs can grow up to 4 inches (10 cm) wide, and weigh up to a pound (450g), or more.
Inside, there are an average of 4 cloves. The cloves are the size of a grown-up’s thumb — sometimes as big as an entire bulb of regular garlic. The cloves separate so easily that the bulb is often sold in mesh to keep it together.
Garlic aficionados might be disappointed by how mild Elephant Garlic tastes. They often feel that it is simply devoid of flavour.
Others say this makes it an ideal “garlic” for using raw.
When grown in colder climates, though, it can have a more pronounced flavour, and it can taste almost sweet when roasted.
Choose firm heads with dry skin.
Details
Allium ampeloprasum
bookmark
Family: Alliaceae
Genus: Allium (AL-ee-um) (Info)
Species: ampeloprasum (am-pel-oh-PRAY-sum) (Info)
Category:
Bulbs
Vegetables
Herbs
Height:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Spacing:
9-12 in. (22-30 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Purple
Bloom Time:
Mid Summer
Foliage:
Herbaceous
Other details:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Soil pH requirements:
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
By dividing the bulb’s scales
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
Seed Collecting:
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Read more: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55019/#ixzz3K9WfhHY0
