[ghost61]

I have acquired some elephant garlic bulbils, which are the size of normal garlic cloves.  I understand that these will first develop into 'rounds' in year one and then will (hopefully) go on to produce the large cloves in year two.  So, if that's right, do I leave them in the soil for the whole of the two years, or lift them after year one in the summer, dry off and replant in the autumn? 

I do have room to leave them undisturbed for the two years if necessary. 

Any advice welcome.  Thanks.

[sunshineband]

I have just left them in the ground and in year two have had some decent cloves.

Bearing in mind that you can plant the cloves in the Autumn to overwinter, I assume they are very hardy and would stand the weather in colder areas than here.

Hope that helps a bit

[DD.]

They don't take 2 years to grow. AG planted this autumn will be ready next July/August. You may get an odd few that don't "clove". These can be replanted, but generally they will only take 10 months or so.

Just don't expect them to taste anything like garlic.

[sunshineband]

They don't take 2 years to grow. AG planted this autumn will be ready next July/August. You may get an odd few that don't "clove". These can be replanted, but generally they will only take 10 months or so.

Just don't expect them to taste anything like garlic.

They are much, much milder and make a really good accompaniment roasted with potatoes.

PS Mine from the tiny offsets took from September last year through to now and most of them are "cloved" nicely     

[ghost61]

Have used it in the past, so know what it's like.  I think I'll lift them next summer to see what has happened.  They are tiny though and unless I can give them the right nutrients for them to grow huge, I'm sceptical that they'll be big bulbs next year.

[sunshineband]

Have used it in the past, so know what it's like.  I think I'll lift them next summer to see what has happened.  They are tiny though and unless I can give them the right nutrients for them to grow huge, I'm sceptical that they'll be big bulbs next year.

You'll be in for a nice surprise then --- they do bulk up amazingly well given decent soil

[ghost61]

Hope so, but I don't have much luck getting big bulbs of real garlic no matter what I do!