Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) isn’t true garlic—it’s more closely related to leeks—but it produces impressively large, mild-flavored bulbs. Over my 30+ years of gardening, I’ve grown elephant garlic in both Sonoma Valley and California’s Central Valley, and it’s always a showstopper in the garden and kitchen.

In this guide, I’ll share my best tips for planting, caring for, and harvesting giant elephant garlic bulbs.

Table of Contents

What Makes Elephant Garlic Special?

Bulb Size: Can weigh up to 1 pound each—much larger than typical garlic.
Flavor: Mild and sweet, great for roasting and slicing raw.
Clove Count: Fewer, much larger cloves per bulb (3–6).
Storage: Keeps for 3–6 months, shorter than softneck garlic.

🌱 Gardener’s tip: Elephant garlic is perfect for gardeners seeking a mild garlic flavor or large bulbs for culinary use.

Planting Elephant Garlic

Timing: Plant in fall, 4–6 weeks before the first hard frost.
Soil: Loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. pH 6.0–7.0 is ideal.
Spacing: Plant cloves 8–12 inches apart, rows 18–24 inches apart, to accommodate giant bulbs.
Depth: Plant cloves 2 inches deep with the pointed end up.

Caring for Elephant Garlic

Watering: Keep soil consistently moist, especially during bulb formation. Avoid waterlogging to prevent rot.
Feeding: Apply a balanced organic fertilizer or compost mid-season.
Mulching: Helps regulate soil temperature and retain moisture through winter.
Pests & Diseases: Monitor for onion thrips, white rot, and fungal issues. Rotate crops every 3–4 years.

Harvesting Elephant Garlic

When: Early to mid-summer, when the lower 1/3 of the leaves turn yellow-brown.
Method: Loosen soil gently with a fork and lift bulbs carefully to avoid damage.
Curing: Hang in a ventilated, dry space for 2–3 weeks before storage.

🌱 Tip from my garden: Elephant garlic scapes can be harvested like hardneck garlic scapes; they are tender and flavorful.

My Experience

Elephant garlic is a fantastic choice for home gardeners who want dramatic-sized bulbs and a milder garlic flavor. Follow proper planting, spacing, and care practices, and you’ll enjoy a harvest of giant, flavorful bulbs year after year.

Elephant Garlic Scapes: How to Harvest and Use Them

Meta description (20 words): Learn when and how to harvest elephant garlic scapes and enjoy their mild, tender flavor in a variety of recipes.

Elephant garlic scapes are the curly, tender flower stalks that appear in late spring. While elephant garlic is milder than true garlic, its scapes carry a delicate, sweet garlic flavor perfect for early-season cooking.

After decades of growing elephant garlic, I’ve learned that harvesting scapes at the right time not only gives a delicious ingredient but also encourages larger bulbs at harvest.

Why Harvest Elephant Garlic Scapes?

Redirects Energy to Bulbs: Removing scapes allows the plant to focus on enlarging the bulb.
Edible Early Crop: Scapes appear weeks before the bulbs are ready.
Mild, Delicious Flavor: Great for cooking raw or lightly sautéed.

🌱 Tip: Elephant garlic scapes are milder than Rocambole scapes, making them ideal for salads and pesto.

When to Harvest

Look for long, curly scapes that have not yet hardened.
Typically 2–3 weeks before bulb harvest, when leaves begin to yellow.
Cut scapes at the base, leaving the plant intact.

How to Use Elephant Garlic Scapes

Pesto: Blend with olive oil, nuts, and Parmesan.
Stir-Fries: Slice thinly and sauté with vegetables or meats.
Roasting/Grilling: Toss with oil and roast for a mellow, sweet flavor.
Pickling: Quick-pickle for crunchy, flavorful snacks.
Raw: Chop finely for salads or sandwiches.

Storing Scapes

Refrigerate: Store up to 2 weeks in a perforated bag.
Freeze: Blanch and freeze for later use.
Pickle: Preserves flavor for months.

Gardener’s Note

Harvesting scapes is a simple, rewarding step. In my Sonoma Valley garden, it consistently results in larger elephant garlic bulbs while giving me early spring ingredients for the kitchen.

🌱 Bottom line: Don’t let elephant garlic scapes go to flower—harvest them for both flavor and bigger bulbs.