Tony O’Neill , expert nurseryman and best - sell author of the famous “ Simplify Vegetable Gardening , ” “ compost Masterclass , ” and “ Your First Vegetable Garden , ” combine womb-to-tomb passion and expert cognition to simplify gardening . His military mission ? Helping you cultivate a roaring garden . More on Tony O’Neill
{ “ statusCode”:401,”message”:”License key missing ” }
However , it does have a mild garlic flavor . In the first class , it grow up to a unmarried bulb . While in the second year , this bulb typically splits into multiple cloves . While it is a biennial , it will act like a perennial as new cloves grow the following year . Determining the time to harvest elephant garlic can be tricky for beginners .
Several factors can touch on the growth and harvest timing of elephant garlic . But with little attention , the physical process can become straightforward . Here are all your interrogative answered specific to elephant garlic develop climate , civilization , crop timing , and upkeep :
Table of mental object
How to Grow Elephant Garlic?
The growing civilization plays a major role in determining the harvest home clip . Here are some of the factors that want to be consider while plan to grow elephant garlic :
Light
Elephant garlic prefer partial to full sunlight . This means they should get at least six hours of direct sunlight most day . While they can turn in partial shade , the light bulb are ordinarily diminished .
Soil
Elephant garlic grows best in productive , deeply cultivated , well - drain soil with a neutral pH of 6.0 - 7.0 . Clay loams are a much better option than sandy dirt for Allium sativum . All you need to be certain of is enough airfoil drain . Since elephant ail is an onion kinfolk penis , it should not be farm in soil that has borne an onion family crop in the last three years .
Water
Elephant Allium sativum needs ordered lacrimation when they are actively growing . There should be enough water system for the soil to remain moderately moist . However , be trusted that you do not overwater , as you may get the filth soggy , which can moulder the bulbs .
It will help if you irrigate it in the dawning , ensure it is dry before night . you may also practice the trickle or trickle scheme , which deliver piddle at low insistence at the soil level .
Temperature
Elephant garlic can support the given temperature considerably well but can utilise some helper . You would need a planting site that is partly shelter and protect the plant life from coarse current of air . you’re able to also put a mulch layer around them , protecting the roots from extreme temperatures .
Humidity
Excessive moisture or humidness can ensue in fungous growth . This can be prevented by proper ground drainage and air circulation .
How to Prepare the Soil Before Planting Elephant Garlic?
To prepare the soil for plantation , hollow it to about a spade ’s depth , remove Stone and level and smoothen the airfoil . Then , forge some compost into the soil for a honest constitutive fertiliser . you may append one more stratum of compost if you decide not to reap your bulbs next year . Also , since surface drainage is essential for elephant garlic , makingraised bedsis recommended .
How to Sow Elephant Garlic?
The light bulb comprise ‘ Syzygium aromaticum ’ all harbour together by a thin paper - alike covering . Before planting , you demand to discriminate the cloves and embed each individually . It would be just to set the cloves ( 1 in below dirt stratum ) with their pointed end facing up .
Also , keep a aloofness of around 10 inch between each Eugenia caryophyllatum in all focussing to admit them to grow . continue up the cakehole , and water them in . you could also mulch your bed with straws or other constitutional material . This will protect the source from freeze , keep weeds down , and exert moisture .
How to Take Care of My Elephant Garlic Plants?
With regular lachrymation , good ventilation , and rich biodiversity in your garden , you’re able to thin out the relative incidence of any topic related to your garlic alliums .
you could also weigh cut off off flowering shuck , also screw as scape , of your garlic plants . They have a meek garlic flavor and can be used in stir - fries , salad , or pesto sauce .
Moreover , cutting them off when 8 to 9 inches tall will allow your flora to focus on bulb increment better . However , some agriculturalist wish to use them for ornamental reasons .
Certain sess and pesterer like downy mildew , leaf blast , electric light and neck opening rot , and purple leaf splodge can affect your elephant garlic plants .
To prevent this , you should exercise crop rotation , helping hand hoeing , purchase disease - costless bulbs , and weed killer applications .
What Are Some Companion Plants for Garlic?
One can plant ail with beetroot , lettuce , tomatoes , strawberries , and summertime savory . Garlic itself is great as a companion plant owe to its strong smell that repels a range of pest species . It is a natural deterrent to the common garden pest , as it accumulates sulfur in the bulb , acts as a antifungal , and keep pestilence such as aphid .
Also , some growers recommend planting chamomile airless to genus Allium , which is say to improve its flavor . However , hold back pea plant and beans away from garlic is suggested , as it could stunt their growth .
How to Harvest Elephant Garlic?
When you acknowledge that the leaves are dry out and bending over , it is time to glean the garlic . You should stop water them at this full stop since excessive moisture can induce the bulbs to rot in the soil . To harvest , softly dig the medulla out using a small paw trowel or a border branching .
It would avail to store the fresh harvested garlic bulbs in a cool , ironical , glum place . You should also save the largest bulb to replant them next season . However , it is best to buy novel bulbs correctly before the planting season .
How to Cure Elephant Garlic?
you could either apply saucily harvested garlic or heal it for depot . You would require around 3 to 8 weeks , depend on the ambient humidness . Some like to lace the summit together and hang them in modest bunches to heal .
To ensure that they have in effect air travel circulation , you may even correct up a fan on a low setting . This will further speed up the curing cognitive operation . Once the bulbs are cured , you’re able to take note a hard shell organise around them .
How to Preserve Elephant Garlic?
To preserve the ail , you must trim the leaves and roots . Also , remove the stalks half an inch above the electric-light bulb . You want to result the skin on the bulb and store them at 45 - 55 ° F with an ambient humidity of around 50 % .
you could put them into a ventilated container like a mesh bag for longer ledge life sentence and well flavor . This hold out ten months and develops a much full flavour than fresh harvest elephant Allium sativum . Also , peeled cloves can be stored in an air - tight container in the freezer , while fresh garlic leaf can be slice up and used like chives .
How Can I Use Elephant Garlic?
you’re able to use elephant ail for both – culinary purpose and generation . Several gastronome employ garlic cloves as a flavour agent . You only involve to slice up and sauté in butter or olive oil . It can also be cooked or grilled , open it a sweet and touchy smack .
One can also run through it crude in a salad or use it as a spread on slices of Italian bread since it is milder and less barbed than usual ail . Besides garlic , you’re able to also use the scapes in some mode .
They can be pickled , fermented , stir - fried , and even used raw in salads . It is also one of the fundamental ingredients for pesto . you may freeze it in a raw , resealable bag for up to a year .
Conclusion On Knowing When to Harvest Elephant Garlic
Elephant Garlic is an interesting perennial herb that will continue to add up sweetheart and grace to your garden year after twelvemonth . If you are set forth to develop garlic , you should sample and source locally grown , organic Allium sativum from growers , shop , and Farmer ’ market .
If that is not feasible , you could look for heirloom and non - GMO varieties that suit your climate online . Whether you use it for culinary purposes or multiplication , growing elephant Allium sativum in your garden will be an amazing and insightful experience .
If you got economic value from this clause , consider subscribing for future update . you’re able to do that below .
