Five cloves of elephant garlic were included in the collection of garlic that we bought last year. I planted three in pots to be planted out in early spring and two cloves were planted directly in the ground.
Other varieties of garlic were pulled earlier as they were suffering from rust and the foliage had died back. The foliage of the directly planted elephant garlic didn't suffer in the same way and so I left them to grow on.
They have now been lifted and have produced some good sized bulbs.
Just like the 'real' garlic - the directly planted elephants have grown better than the ones that were transplanted. Like others have reported there were some small bulbils attached to the main bulbs so maybe I'll plant these and see what happens.
Our success has encouraged us to order more cloves to plant next year. Now we just need to decide how to use this year's bulbs. Elephant garlic isn't truly a garlic at all but more closely related to a leek. The flavour is supposed to be like a mild garlic and I understand that they are good roasted whole or even used raw in a salad. I wonder whether we should eat them on a day when we will not be in anyone else's company!
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I'd try roasting the Elephant Garlic. That technique seems to make anything sweeter and less "in your face".
ReplyDeleteWE may have a little nibble of a raw bit and then try roasting Mark
DeleteWow..they are a great size. I don't know whether I would want to grow this personally though as I like strong garlic and we already use it raw...though I like the sound of roasted garlic so maybe I will get just a few to plant for that reason...I like the thought of chucking some in a pan with the potatoes!!
ReplyDeleteI think you can raost whole ordinary garlic too Tanya
DeleteI grew them a couple of years ago,if I remember correctly we grated the bulb into whatever we were cooking. I seem to remember it worked well on garlic bread.
ReplyDeleteBut you didn't grow them again awpol weren't you inmpressed enough?
DeleteSurprising where land with elephants like our Malaysia, we seldom get mammoth produce!!.... congratulations
ReplyDeleteI think I'll pass on real elephants in the garden Bangchik
DeleteWe also had bulbils from elephant garlic we harvested last year. The bulbils kept well for months.
ReplyDeleteDid you plant any of the bulbils Diana?
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