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Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum

Elephant garlic

Common names: giant garlic, field garlic

Elephant garlic

This description was machine-translated.

Description

Elephant garlic produces fist‑sized bulbs with only a few, enormous cloves, botanically it is more closely related to leek than to true garlic. Its aroma is mild and nutty, making it ideal for roasting whole. It is a generous plant that yields large harvests even for beginners.

Care instructions

Plant individual cloves in September or October about 8 cm deep in loose, nutrient‑rich soil at a sunny spot. Over winter it roots and sprouts vigorously in spring. Break the flower stalks in June so the energy goes into the bulb, and harvest when the foliage dies back in mid‑summer.

Soil & site

Soil pH

4.0pH 6–7.58.0

Soil type

loamy, sandy, well-drained, humus-rich, nutrient-rich

LightFull sun
HardinessHardy with protection
Crop rotationAlliums
Water needMedium

Feeding

Heavy feeder

Companion planting

Good neighbors

carrot family (Apiaceae)

Umbellifers and alliums confuse each other's pests (carrot fly, onion fly).

For example celery rootDillParsleyCarrot fennelCorianderCelery (Stalk Celery) and 18 more species in the catalogue

Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)

rose family (Rosaceae)

You can plant garlic and chives under strawberries and roses; their scent repels aphids and other pests.

For example AppleRaspberryClimbing rosePearAroniaBlackberry and 52 more species in the catalogue

Source: Bio-Gärtnerei Mixed Culture Practice

Rather not

legume family (Fabaceae)

particularly well established

Allium species inhibit the nitrogen‑fixing rhizobia of legumes through their root exudates, which slows their growth.

For example Broad beanMarker peaSugar peaRed beanLima beanchickpea and 28 more species in the catalogue

Source: basic crop‑rotation rule

nightshade family (Solanaceae)

Onions slow down the growth of nightshade family plants next to potatoes and tomatoes; the classic crop-rotation rule also applies in the bed side by side.

For example PotatoTomatoSweet pepperCocktail tomatoEggplantCape gooseberry and 9 more species in the catalogue

Source: basic crop-rotation rule

Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.

Some of these explanations were machine-translated.

Diseases & pests

2 relevant

From the knowledge base, automatically linked by affected species. How to spot and prevent them is covered in full in the lexicon.

PestmediumMay–Sep
Leek moth

Acrolepiopsis assectella

The leek moth is a small nocturnal moth whose larvae bore into the leaves and stalks of leeks, garlic, and onions.

More on Leek moth
DiseasemediumJun–Oct
Leek rust

Puccinia allii

Leek rust is a fungal disease on leek, garlic, onion and chives. Bright orange yellow, elongated spore pustules form on the leaves and leaf sheaths, which burst open and dust off rust coloured powder.

More on Leek rust

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