Elephant garlic - what are these?

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Fat Controller, Oct 13, 2015.

  1. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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    We had a reasonably successful shot at growing Elephant garlic - three cloves = 3 nice big fat bulbs; the plants were lifted and then hung in a cool, dry place with good airflow to allow them to dry.

    Over the weekend, we decided to try some (very nice it is too!), and discovered that all of the bulbs grown had sprouted much smaller, clove like things around the bulb:

    2015-10-11 17.46.11-1.jpg

    2015-10-11 17.46.55.jpg

    What are they?
     
    Fat Controller, Oct 13, 2015
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  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Yep, I got loads of those also, wondered if they are worth planting?

    Wouldn't expect much from them in just one year though
     
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      pete, Oct 13, 2015
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    • Fat Controller

      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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      I have a rogue clove that has sprouted already in one of the barrels for a different type of garlic, so it seems that some of them are keen. I might plant some and see what comes of them
       
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        Fat Controller, Oct 13, 2015
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      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        They will grow into full size elephant garlic eventually, I reckon about 3 years. Worth the wait though.
         
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          JWK, Oct 13, 2015
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        • dalrimple

          dalrimple Gardener

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          I got 21 of mine last year so iv'e planted them some where i can keep an eye on em ,thev'e sprouted so i'll wait and see what happens
          they are not true garlic and infact are a leek and the bulblets are corms .
           
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            dalrimple, Oct 14, 2015
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          • WeeTam

            WeeTam Total Gardener

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            Planted about 60 of these bulbils this year and will wait and see what happens.Your best planting these asap as once the skin has dried out they take ages to sprout. I found a few from last year that hadnt sprouted and the outer skin had only just broken down in 12 months ?
             
            WeeTam, Oct 14, 2015
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          • pete

            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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            yep, noticed the skin was pretty hard.
             
            pete, Oct 14, 2015
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