Do you want to know about Elephant Garlic? reading this guide about Elephant Garlic will enlight you more about this particular type of garlic. but Let first start with the varieties of garlic to grow.
We welcome you to garliccare, here we try to answers all you question about garlic and how to grow garlic, plant garlic, and garlic recipes. But this article or guide will talk about elephant garlic care?
SUMMARY
GARLIC VARIETIES TO GROW
The history of garlic is long and complicated. Originally from Central Asia, it has been cultivated in the Mediterranean for over 5,000 years.
Gladiators ate garlic before the battle, and Egyptian slaves are said to have consumed it to give them the strength to build the pyramids. There are two different types of garlic, although some consider elephant garlic to be the third type. Elephant garlic is actually a member of the onion family, but it is a type of leek.
It has very large bulbs with very few cloves, three or four, and it has a sweet and chewy onion/garlic flavor and a similar mine hence the confusion. Garlic is one of 700 varieties of the Allium, or onion, family. The two different types of garlic are the softneck (Allium sativum) and hard neck (Allium ophioscorodon), which is sometimes called neck stiffness.
HARDNECK GARLIC
Hard-necked garlic (Allium sativum ophioscorodon) tends to have more flavor than its soft-necked cousins. They are characterized by solid woody centre stems and a long flower stalk (scape) that twists and turns, usually twice. They tend to have four to twelve lobes per bulb.
This solid wood leg in the centre of the lamp tells you it’s Hardneck
Scalloped garlic can sometimes be hot or hot. Others say they are spicier, more complex, and more “winged”. The porcelain, rocambole and stripe purple varieties are part of the hard neck family.
Stiff neck garlic tends to grow best in areas with very cold winters, as it requires a longer period of spawning (i.e. they need a long, cold winter to be dormant in order to bloom in the spring).
The most common type of tough garlic is “Rocambole,” which has large, easy-to-peel cloves and has a stronger flavor than soft-necked garlic. The soft, easy-to-peel skin reduces the shelf life to about four to five months. Unlike soft-necked garlic, hard-necked shoots send out flowering stems, or scabs, that become woody.
SOFTNECK GARLIC
Soft-necked garlic (Allium sativum sativum) is thought to have evolved from tough-necked garlic and includes most of the garlic you see in large supermarkets. Since it lacks the flowering stem of tough garlic, it produces a lot of cloves – sometimes as many as eight, and sometimes as many as thirty or more cloves.
Softneck Garlic is great all-purpose garlic that works well with almost any dish.
If you like to eat or use raw or lightly cooked garlic, you will likely choose a soft-necked variety. If you’re making a simple marinade where garlic has a distinct flavor, switch to soft-necked garlic. It tastes more herbal and vegan and does not have the sting of its stiff neck siblings. READ MORE
ELEPHANT GARLIC
CULTIVATION AND USE OF ELEPHANT GARLIC
The mature bulb is broken up into cloves that are large with papery skins, and these are used for both culinary purposes and propagation. Also, much smaller cloves with a hard shell grow on the outside of the bulb.
Many gardeners often ignore these, but if they are planted, they produce a nonflowering plant in their first year, which has a solid bulb, essentially a single large clove. In their second year, this single clove then, like a normal bulb, divides into many separate cloves.
While it may take an extra year, it is desirable to plant these small bulbils (several can be produced by each bulb) and increase the harvest, though a year delayed.
Unlike many garlics, elephant garlic does not have to be harvested or divided each year, but can be ignored and left in the ground without much risk of rotting. The plant, if left alone, will spread into a clump with many flowering heads (one stalk and flower from each clove, once the bulb divides).
These are often left in flower gardens as an ornament and to discourage pests. Once they get overcrowded, the plant may not do as well, and growth is stunted, with some rotting. Elephant garlic is not generally propagated by seeds.
Like regular garlic, elephant garlic can be roasted whole on the grill or baked in the oven, then used as a spread with butter on toast. Fresh elephant garlic contains mostly moisture and foams up like boiling potatoes, whether on the stove or in a glass dish in the oven. Drying in the basement for a few months reduces the moisture content and brings out a fuller flavor.
Please follow the above information for cultivation and uses of Elephant Garlic
DETAILS
| TYPE | DAYS OF MATURITY | SUN | SPREAD | HEIGHT | SOW METHOD | PLANTING TIME | THIN |
| Softneck | 90 – 240 days | Full sun | 4 inches | 24 – 36 inches | Direct Sow | Fall, Spring
|
4 inches
|
GROWING CALENDAR FOR GROW 7
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JULY | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
| PLANT | PLANT |
GROWING INFORMATION
HOW TO SOW
1. In the south, plant the clove plant in autumn for spring fruit. In the north, plant soft-necked varieties in early spring for an early summer harvest and hard-necked varieties in autumn for spring fruit.
2. Organic When you take bulbs, plant cloves rich in organic matter and in full sun. Do not hold your bulbs until the next planting season.
3. Each bulb is made up of several sections called “cloves” held together by a thin layer of paper. Before planting, plant the cloves separately.
4. Choose a place in the whole sun with well-drained soil where you did not plant garlic last year.
5. Soil Remove rocks by digging the organic matter into your soil at least 6 to 8 inches deep, then level and smooth.
6. Plant 1 to 2 feet apart in R row, 3 to 4 inches deep and 4 inches apart. Turn off the water lightly and lightly.
7. Plant cloves on top.
8. Garlic sown in spring is grown in 14 to 21 days. Garlic planted in autumn may not emerge until spring.
9. Fall If garlic is grown in the fall and severe frost is expected, mix tender vegetables for protection.
HOW TO GROW
1. Growing Control weeds during the growing season. Weeds compete with plants for water, space, and nutrition, so control them by increasing their seed germination frequently or using marijuana. Avoid disturbing the soil around the tree while weeding
2. Water the plants well during the dry period to increase rapid, uninterrupted growth. Plants need about 1 inch of rainfall per week during the growing season.
Use a ranging to check if you need to add water. It is better to irrigate with drip or drip system which provides low-pressure water at ground level.
OTHER TYPES:
- CALIFORNIA EARLY GARLIC
- INCHELIUM RED GARLIC
- ITALIAN LATE GARLIC
- TRANSYLVANIA GARLIC
- NOOTKA ROSE GARLIC
If you are watering with an overhead sprinkler, water early in the day so that the current dries out before dusk, it is time to reduce the problem of disease. Keep the soil moist but not saturated.
RECOMMEND GUIDE: HOW TO GROW GARLIC FROM SEED
3. P Watch for pests and diseases. See your local Cooperative Extension Service for suggested pest control in your area.
HARVEST AND PRESERVING TIPS
1. The crop is harvested when the leaves of the tree begin to turn yellow. At this point, bend the tops to make them turn yellow and speed up drying. Feel around the top of the bulb to make sure the gloves are made.
2. Plants Pull the plants and let them dry in the sun for a few hours. Spread these in a well-ventilated place until the tops are completely dry in about 3-4 weeks.
3. Trim 1 to 2 inches above the bulb or braid the top together for soft-necked varieties. Store loose bulbs in the fountain to keep them dry, cool and ventilated, or hang a string of brushed garlic.
4. Garlic can be frozen, made with vinegar or made with garlic Cloves.
ELEPHANT GARLIC CARE
Elephant Garlic Planting Tips
Divide the bulb into individual cloves, for planting. Plant each clove 4-6 inches deep. Space them about 8-12 inches apart, to allow some airflow between plants.Give your elephant garlic plants regular water, at least one inch per week.
Elephant garlic will send up flower stalks, or scapes, just like regular garlic. The scapes are drawing energy that should be going toward bulking up the bulb. Cut the scapes before they begin to curl or bloom. The scapes are edible and make a lovely pesto.
Harvesting and Storing
Harvest when the leaves start to yellow and turn brown. Once harvested, allow your elephant garlic bulbs to dry for a few days, in a cool, shady spot. When dry, brush off as much soil as you can, but do not wash the bulbs.
If you plan on storing elephant garlic, it will need to be cured. Let the bulbs sit in a cool, dark spot for 3-8 weeks. Make sure there is good air circulation. Use a fan, if you have too.
After curing, you can cut off all but about an inch of the flower stalks and any remaining roots. The skin may be papery at this point, but let it remain on the bulbs.
Store the elephant garlic bulbs where they will remain at about 45-55 degrees F. and no more than 50 percent humidity. With these conditions, your elephant garlic can keep for 8-10 months. In less ideal conditions, use your bulbs within 3-4 months.
Pest and Diseases of Elephant Garlic
Elephant garlic is relatively problem-free. Slugs can be an issue, during damp seasons. There are a few fungal leaf diseases that can affect the plants, but buying certified disease-free bulbs and providing the plants with room for airflow should limit the problem.
Elephant Garlic needs attention as any plant may need to grow, follow the guide above in other to know how to care for such garlic before and after planting or growing and it is very good to grow in a garden as from the above data.
