?? Elephant Garlic (3 cloves) – Gentle giant with a tender heart ? Offered by Van Noort
Elephant garlic impresses with its extraordinary XXL stature.
Technically, it is not a classic garlic but a botanical ally of the leek ( Allium ampeloprasum ), cultivated like garlic, but with a more tender texture and a less pungent flavor . It loves full sun, rich and well-loosened soils, and its spectacular flowering also attracts attention. A culinary and ornamental curiosity , perfect for gourmet gardeners and lovers of amazing varieties!
?? Product Features
?? Average height : 80 to 100 cm
?? Exposure : Full sun
?? Hardiness : Zone 5 and above
?? Attracts wildlife : Yes, its flowering attracts insects
?? Water requirements : Moderate
?? Ideal soil : Rich, deep, well-drained, loosened
?? Quantity : 3 units
?? Planting and growing Elephant Garlic
?? When to plant? From October to November, for a harvest in July
?? In open ground : Ideal in a well-exposed vegetable bed , or at the edge of a mixed bed for its ornamental effect
?? In a pot : Only possible in a very large container , with a good supply of compost
?? How to plant?
1?? Depth : 6 to 8 cm
2?? Spacing : 20 to 25 cm
3?? Watering : Regular without excess, especially during the growth period
?? Growing tip : It will appreciate a good nourishing mulch in spring. Its flower stem can grow very tall - you can leave it for show , or cut it young if you want to concentrate energy on the bulb.
?? Elephant Garlic Care ??
?? Watering : Moderate, especially in spring
?? Fertilizer : Add compost or manure in the fall
?? Pruning : Cut the flower stem if necessary
?? Wintering : Mulch lightly in harsh climates
?? Why choose Elephant Garlic?
? Giant bulbs , very decorative and delicious
? Mild flavor , perfect for long cooking times
? Original plant , ideal for impressing in the vegetable garden
? Brings volume, softness and plant surprise to the garden
? Deliver dramatic presence , tender flavor , and a unique botanical accent with Elephant Garlic??, offered by Van Noort — a monumental and surprisingly delicate variety. ?
?? To be married with...
Colorful chard , kale or nasturtiums , for a scene that is both productive, tasty and rich in vegetable texture . ??
? Understand everything about the types of garlic: hardneck, porcelain, rocambole… ?
Under their white, mauve or coppery skins, cultivated garlic hides an astonishing diversity! They are often classified into two main families: hardneck garlic and softneck garlic , with subcategories as pretty as their names: porcelain , rocambole , turbans , etc. Here is a little guide to help you find your way around:
?? Hardneck garlic: the hardy ones of the North
These garlics have a rigid flower stem in the center of the bulb. They are more suited to cool climates , very hardy, and often offer large, well-formed cloves around the heart. They include:
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Porcelain garlic (like Duganski): few cloves (4 to 6), very large, firm flesh, excellent storage , strong aroma. White or purple bulbs.
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Rocambole garlic : complex flavor, thinner skin, keeps a little less long but is more subtle in cooking .
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Purple or mauve garlic : beautiful ridged skin, rich aroma, often spectacular bulbs.
?? Special feature : they produce a garlic flower (flower stalk), edible, to be harvested young as a delicacy.
?? Softneck Garlic: Southern Classics
Without a rigid central stem, these garlics form a bulb that is often richer in cloves and smaller in size. Ideal for mild climates , they braid easily and store well. They sometimes have a milder flavor , perfect for everyday cooking.
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Examples: White garlic from Lomagne , pink garlic from Lautrec , pink garlic from Auvergne
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Perfect for spring or fall planting in warmer regions.
?? And in the garden?
Hardneck garlic is best planted in the fall ; it is more hardy and its flowering (the famous garlic flower) is a little culinary bonus. Softneck garlic is more flexible when it comes to planting, but does not like overly long winters.
?? Little natural magic : Whatever the type, if you leave a few bulbs in place, they will multiply from year to year . A true companion culture, faithful and generous.