[dmg]

I have a couple of dozen bulbils from when I lifted the elephant garlic. I realise I won't get them to full size in 1 season, but how big can I expect them to get, and how long to actual full size?


Thanks
Dmg

[gobs]

I do not grow elephant garlic, but I would guess, they should behave pretty much like other bulbils in family, so you can get them to good size in one season, sounds likely.

[SusieB]

Are the bulbils the little cloves (about 1cm long)?  I have always wondered what to do with them?

[gavinjconway]

I'm going to try some that grew on mine this year as well.. Normal bulbills take about 3 years of growing seasons before turning into proper garlic bulbs with individual cloves so i'd assume it will be the same for elephant type as well.

[DD.]

i'd assume it will be the same for elephant type as well.

You may well be right, but remember Elephant "Garlic" is not actually garlic, so you really can call it a "type".

[gavinjconway]

Yeah DD - very mild - just like a strong leek..

[Trillium]

That's because it IS a type of leek, and all part of the allium family 

[gavinjconway]

Yup I know that.. But it's still a good additive to stews and also great baked with the Sunday roast..

[WirralWally]

Leave them in the ground, and let them over-winter, and then you will get an exceptional size 'elephant garlic' in the spring or early summer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . for what its worth.
Elephant Garlic is not all its trumped up to be 

[Trillium]

You've got that right, Wally. I added a whole elephant garlic clove to caesar dressing I made and it had no flavour whatsoever.

[Sparkyrog]

Now you Guy's are bothering me about lack of flavour ! I don't know whether to try or not as I have been given some   

[dmg]

Thanks for all the replies,
I actually quite enjoyed them in with the roast. I will pot them up into florist pots soon and leave them outside.

dmg

[jonewer]

I found mine does little when added to stews but chucked in with a roast and eaten whole they were wonderful!

Its a real pain to grow though. I havent managed to get really BIG bulbs yet. They are just the same size as the biggest normal garlics.

To grow the bulbils, do I just stick them in the ground?

[sunshineband]

I had some of these bulbils too, and shall be planting them out in a row about an inch and a half deep fairly soon. Nothing to lose.

This year our elephant garlic cloves are massive, at about an 4cm tall and 2-3cm across    .Watered in some Sulphate of potash in November, fed them well in January with some chicken manure pellets and kept them watered with a good soak every couple of weeks. Did the job 

Some of these cloves will be being replanted in the next couple of weeks , too 

[realfood]

I find that they have a good flavour and use them all the time for stews, braising and roasting. Easy to grow and my friends are always asking me if I have any left for them to plant. Very expensive to buy at farmers market. £1 a clove. Also very good for storage, at least a year.