Elephant garlic has become an increasingly popular vegetable in recent years. This gigantic garlic variety produces huge bulbs that can weigh up to a pound each! The flavor is more mild than regular garlic, making it perfect for those who find standard garlic too overpowering. If you want to grow your own elephant garlic, you’ll need to get your hands on some elephant garlic seed. Here’s where to find elephant garlic seed for sale.
A Bit About Elephant Garlic
Before we dive into where to buy elephant garlic seed let’s go over some quick facts about this vegetable.
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Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) is actually more closely related to leeks than garlic However, it has a similar taste and uses to garlic, with a milder flavor
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The bulbs are much larger than regular garlic, growing up to 6 inches long and 4 inches wide. They can weigh around 1 pound each at maturity.
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The cloves and skin are also larger than typical garlic. Elephant garlic contains around 4-6 large cloves per bulb.
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It has a longer growing season than regular garlic, needing 5-8 months to reach full size. Harvest is usually in late summer.
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Elephant garlic has some great nutritional benefits, being high in manganese, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and more.
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The flavor is garlic-like but milder. It can substitute for garlic in many recipes. Roasting brings out the sweetness.
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Elephant garlic is simple to grow, with few pest issues. It can be grown similarly to regular garlic.
Now that you know a bit about elephant garlic, let’s look at some sources for elephant garlic seed.
Online Seed Companies
One of the easiest places to find elephant garlic seed is from online seed companies that ship nationwide. Here are a few good online sources:
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RareSeeds.com – This company offers organic elephant garlic seed for sale. You can buy 1 pound bags of elephant garlic seed cloves. They also sell seed garlic varieties like purple stripe and porcelain.
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FilareeFarm.com – This is a family-owned organic garlic farm in Washington that sells elephant garlic seed. You can buy whole bulbs, rounds, or loose cloves. Their elephant garlic seed is certified organic.
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IrishEyesGardenSeeds.com – This Pacific Northwest company sells conventional and organic elephant garlic seed. You can choose from whole bulbs, peeled cloves, or value packs.
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TerritorialSeed.com – This vegetable seed company based in Oregon sells elephant garlic seed grown on their farm. You can buy bundles of 3-5 bulbs or 1 pound bags.
When ordering online, keep in mind shipping times and climate. Make sure elephant garlic seed can arrive in time for fall planting in your area. Also look at guarantees and policies regarding living products like bulbs and cloves.
Local Garden Stores
Another option is to check with local garden stores and nurseries to see if they carry elephant garlic seed cloves for planting. These are some things to look for:
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Independent garden centers or family-owned nurseries sometimes sell garlic varieties including elephant garlic. Ask if they can special order seed bulbs or cloves.
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Stores may sell elephant garlic bulbs for eating. You can separate and plant the cloves yourself. Check that the bulbs were not treated to inhibit sprouting.
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Farm stands, farmers markets, and CSAs may sell elephant garlic seed seasonally. Chat with vendors about pre-ordering for fall planting.
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Stores near areas with garlic farms have a better chance of access. Check stores in garlic-growing regions like California, Oregon, and Washington.
If buying locally, inspect bulbs and cloves carefully for signs of mold, damage, or disease. Make sure the variety sold is best suited for your climate. Also ask about certifications like organic or non-GMO.
Garlic Festivals and Events
One fun way to source elephant garlic seed is by attending a garlic-themed festival or event. Many of these celebrate garlic growers and varieties. Here are some tips for finding elephant garlic at these events:
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Check event vendor lists ahead of time for garlic growers and sellers. Reach out to confirm they will have elephant garlic seed for sale.
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Ask growers directly about elephant garlic availability. They may have seed even if not listed publicly.
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Look for garlic competitions and displays. Chat with growers and see if they sell any of their competition bulbs or cloves.
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Attend educational talks and seminars on garlic cultivation. Speakers may sell appropriate garlic seed for your area including elephant garlic.
Some popular garlic festivals to check out include the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California, the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival in New York, and the Maine Garlic Festival. Make a fun weekend out of garlic seed shopping!
With so many sources, it’s easy to find reputable sellers offering quality elephant garlic seed for planting. Support local and organic growers when possible. Then enjoy growing and cooking with your own fresh elephant garlic harvest!
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Growing Elephant Garlic for GIANT Sized Bulbs
FAQ
What month do you plant elephant garlic?
If you are in milder climates, you can plant your elephant garlic from October to December, although you may want to plant them from September through November in the cooler climates, to give the elephant garlic time to develop healthier roots before the harsh winter months.
Can I plant elephant garlic from the grocery store?
- Elephant garlic is a type of garlic: It’s a larger variety, but it’s still a type of garlic, so the general principles of planting garlic apply.
- Store-bought garlic is often treated: To prevent sprouting while on shelves, store-bought garlic is sometimes sprayed with chemicals. This can hinder growth when planted, so organic varieties are better.
- Planting in the fall is ideal: Planting in the fall allows the garlic to establish roots before the harsh winter months.
- Separate the cloves: Once you have your elephant garlic, you’ll need to separate the individual cloves and plant them with the pointy end facing up, according to Gardening Know How.
- Spacing is important: Space the cloves 3-4 inches apart to allow for proper growth.
- Depth matters: Plant the cloves 3-4 inches deep.
Does elephant garlic make seeds?
Elephant garlic seeds produce impressively large bulbs weighing up to a pound! Elephant garlic is considered a hardneck garlic and will give you scapes.
How much do elephant garlic bulbs weigh?
Enormous bulbs weigh up to 1 lb.! Has a milder, mellower flavor. Elephant garlic prefers a long, cool growing season and is best planted in early fall. The larger the planted clove, the larger the bulb it will produce, and these cloves are huge. You’ll harvest enormous bulbs that are up to 4″ wide and 3″ long! Delicious mild flavor.
Can elephant garlic grow from seed?
While farmers grow regular garlic from seed, not so for elephant garlic. Generally smaller cloves are used to propagate the plant, which won’t flower or develop into mature elephant garlic plants until the second year at least. Much like regular garlic, elephant garlic has basically the same botanical structure.
When should elephant garlic be planted?
Elephant garlic prefers a long, cool growing season and is best planted in early fall. The larger the planted clove, the larger the bulb it will produce, and these cloves are huge. Youll harvest enormous bulbs that are up to 4″ wide and 3″ long!
How often does elephant garlic go to seed?
So elephant garlic tends to alternate between the production of cloves and the production of rounds and may go to seed only every second year. Elephant garlic does best in rich, deeply cultivated, well-drained soil and likes full sun.
What is elephant garlic?
Elephant Garlic: Allium ampeloprasum Not a true garlic, these enormous bulbs have much milder and sweeter flavor than garlic, as it’s related more closely to a leek. Elephant garlic is planted 6-8 inches apart and covered with 4-6 inches of soil. Late-season. These huge cloves produce softball-sized heads.
How big does elephant garlic grow?
The entire plant will grow 2 to 3 feet tall. Elephant garlic is prized for its use in food. Although it’s closely related to its regular cousin, it has a much milder taste in the way onions have a similar but more powerful profile than a leek. Often the whole bulb is roasted with olive oil, salt, pepper, and other seasonings to add to dishes.