Why Grow Elephant Garlic?
Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) is a favourite among New Zealand home gardener's. With its mild, buttery flavour and impressively large cloves, it's easier to peel and cook with than standard garlic — and it's surprisingly straightforward to grow in our climate.
When to Plant Elephant Garlic in NZ
The best time to plant elephant garlic in New Zealand is late autumn to early winter — May through July. Planting during this cooler period gives the cloves the cold vernalisation they need to develop large, well-formed bulbs by summer harvest time.
- North Island: May–June
- South Island: May - July
Choosing the Right Site
Elephant garlic thrives in:
- Full sun (at least 6 hours per day)
- Well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0–7.0
- Add a nice bit of compost to give your crop its best start
- Mulching with peastraw or light semi- rotted wood chip is helpful for weed suppression and reducing watering needs
How to Plant
- Break the bulb into individual cloves just before planting — don't do this too far in advance.
- Plant cloves with their pointed end up, about the depth of the bulb deep and 20–25 cm apart.
- Space rows 30 cm apart to allow good airflow.
- Water in well after planting.
Caring for Your Crop
Elephant garlic is relatively low-maintenance
- Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Natural rainfall should be sufficient except in dry zones or if it’s a dry season. Reduce watering as bulbs approach maturity in late spring.
-
Feeding: Apply a good liquid fertiliser in early spring to encourage leaf growth.
- Weeding: Keep the weeds at bay — competition leads to smaller bulbs
- Scapes (flowers): Remove the curling flower stalks when they appear in spring. This helps direct all of the plant's energy into bulb development. Scapes are edible and delicious stir-fried or in pesto!
Harvesting
Elephant garlic is ready to harvest after about 6 months, when the lower leaves start to yellow and die back — typically November to January depending when you planted. Carefully lift bulbs with a fork while holding and gently pulling the neck just above the bulb. Don’t pull hard on the stem! the roots are very strong and you might rip the whole stem off.
Leave all leaves and roots on the bulbs for curing, as they dry up all the sugars in the leaves will go to the bulb.
Cure in a warm, dry and airy spot for 2–4 weeks before storing. At this point, roots and leaves can now be removed. Well-cured elephant garlic can keep for 6–12 months.
Ready to Grow Your Own?
Browse our selection of quality garlic seed stock and get your crop started this season. Growing your own garlic is one of the most rewarding things you can do in the kitchen garden — and elephant garlic is the perfect place to begin.