Elephant Garlic
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Elephant Garlic (and garlic)Garlic (allium sativum) is increasingly popular among allotment holders and now is the time to think about ordering. Two types of garlic can be grown—hardneck and softneck, as well as wild garlic, the type found growing along riverbanks and in woodland. Hardneck is best for this part of the country—it produces less (4 to 6), but bigger cloves than softneck varieties.
Garlic prefers a mild, warm climate and doesn't like too much rain. In Scotland therefore, it's best to grow varieties tried and tested in colder climates. Plant in autumn, several weeks before the first frost, or any time from January to March—the only difference with autumn planting is that you will have potentially larger bulbs. Garlic likes a sunny spot in free draining soil, not compacted or boggy, and can be grown relatively closely together, about 10cm apart and 15cm between rows. Plant just under the soil. It is resistant to most diseases apart from white rot, which, once in the soil, can take years to die away. If you have white rot (which seems to be present across Warriston) it may not be possible to plant alliums in the infected area for around 8 years, sometimes longer. |
Elephant garlic (shown here) is a good choice for colder climates. Its cloves are unbelievably big (up to 5cm wide) and and never cease to amaze when dug up in July. It is truly a giant of the plot, with its wide green leaves and a scape (flowerhead) that can reach up to 1.5 metres. Not a true garlic, it is more closely related to the leek, so doesn't mind a wetter winter and is easy to grow in Scotland. Officially a perennial which can be left in the ground without harm, it is usually treated by gardeners as an annual.
Plant individual cloves in October/November, a little deeper than regular garlic, leaving about 20cm between. If the season is cool, it will grow into a larger mono bulb which can be left in the ground for another year or deliciously roasted whole. With enough warmth however, the bulb splits into 4-6 cloves which can be eaten or planted as separate cloves for harvesting the following year. The elephant is best roasted and mashed into a rich condiment: it is very mild so not up to the 'seasoning' job of regular garlic—its flavour can be lost if amalgamated during the cooking of a dish. AB
The Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight is a good supplier of both elephant and hardneck/softneck garlic varieties.
Plant individual cloves in October/November, a little deeper than regular garlic, leaving about 20cm between. If the season is cool, it will grow into a larger mono bulb which can be left in the ground for another year or deliciously roasted whole. With enough warmth however, the bulb splits into 4-6 cloves which can be eaten or planted as separate cloves for harvesting the following year. The elephant is best roasted and mashed into a rich condiment: it is very mild so not up to the 'seasoning' job of regular garlic—its flavour can be lost if amalgamated during the cooking of a dish. AB
The Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight is a good supplier of both elephant and hardneck/softneck garlic varieties.
