GARLIC 'Elephant' --Allium ampeloprasum--

Actually a closer relative of leeks than true garlic, but of immense utility nonetheless. Super-large bulbs can easily exceed a half-pound, are comprised of a few very plump cloves. The flavor is all garlic! The gigantic cloves peel easily, giving you a lot of garlic in a hurry. Very useful for large recipes, pickles, etc. An old favorite! Plant individual garlic cloves in the fall, prior to the ground freezing, in well-prepared beds of soil that is rich in organic matter. It may be necessary to cover with mulch prior to the hard freezes of winter and then uncover afterwards. Harvest scapes (greens) when they have made one full curl and before becoming erect (can still be used erect however the texture is tougher). Bulbs are ready for harvesting when completely filled out and plump. Watch for the bottom two leaves to brown and die back and for the rest of the plant to begin to yellow. Test dig a few bulbs to determine if crop is ready. Discontinue irrigation for about two weeks prior to harvest. Do not pull garlic up by the stalk but lift the garlic by digging with a fork or shovel. Harvested garlic should be spread out or hung away from direct sunlight for two to three weeks to cure (air conditioned location is okay). Make sure curing bulbs have adequate air circulation and are not piled atop of one another. 180-210 days.