Elephant Garlic (\(Allium\) \(ampeloprasum\) var. \(ampeloprasum\)) is defined by its substantial size, often producing bulbs as large as a softball with large individual cloves. This large, mild bulb has gained popularity in kitchens for its gentle flavor, which is significantly less pungent than true garlic. Its immense size and ease of peeling make it a favorite for roasting and other preparations where a milder, more onion-like taste is desired.
The Difference Between Hardneck and Softneck Garlic
The distinction between hardneck and softneck garlic applies only to varieties of \(Allium\) \(sativum\) (true garlic), based on their physical structure and growth habits. Hardneck garlic (\(A.\) \(sativum\) subsp. \(ophioscorodon\)) is characterized by a stiff, woody central stalk that grows up through the center of the bulb. This rigid stalk, known as a scape, is a flowering stem that must often be removed during the growing season to encourage bulb growth.
Hardneck varieties thrive in regions with cold winters, as cold exposure is necessary for proper bulb and scape formation. They produce a single layer of fewer, larger cloves (four to twelve per bulb), which are easier to peel. However, the presence of the stiff scape means they cannot be braided, and their storage life is comparatively shorter, often lasting only four to eight months.
Softneck garlic (\(A.\) \(sativum\) subsp. \(sativum\)) lacks this central flowering stalk, resulting in a flexible neck after harvest. This pliability allows the stems to be easily braided for attractive, long-term storage, which is why these varieties are most commonly found in grocery stores. Softneck types are suited for regions with milder winters and produce a higher number of smaller cloves, often in multiple layers.
Their tighter, more numerous wrappers provide a natural defense against moisture loss, giving softneck garlic a superior shelf life, sometimes lasting up to a year. The flavor profile of softneck garlic is milder than hardneck, but its extended storage capability makes it a staple for commercial production.
Elephant Garlic’s True Identity
Elephant Garlic is definitively neither a hardneck nor a softneck, as it is not a variety of true garlic (\(Allium\) \(sativum\)). Botanically, it is classified as \(Allium\) \(ampeloprasum\), a species that includes the garden leek, making it a close relative of the leek rather than the common garlic. This taxonomic difference is responsible for its unique characteristics, including its immense size and mild flavor.
The confusion arises because Elephant Garlic does produce a tall, rigid flowering stalk, or scape, which visually resembles the woody stem of a hardneck. This stiff stalk emerges from the center of the plant, leading many to incorrectly assume it belongs to the hardneck category. However, this scape is biologically a feature of the leek lineage and not the sexual reproduction mechanism seen in true hardneck garlic.
Its leek ancestry also explains the flavor profile, which is noticeably milder and more onion-like than true garlic. The chemical compound allicin, responsible for the pungent flavor of true garlic, is present in lower concentrations in Elephant Garlic. This difference in composition means it offers a gentle, subtle garlic essence rather than the intense, spicy punch of \(A.\) \(sativum\) varieties.
Cultivating Elephant Garlic
Growing Elephant Garlic is similar to growing true garlic, with the plant requiring a long, cool period for proper bulb development, making fall planting ideal. Due to the sheer size of the plant, it requires much greater spacing than true garlic, with individual cloves needing eight to twelve inches of space to develop into a full bulb. Planting the cloves four to six inches deep in well-drained, fertile soil allows for a summer harvest.
A unique feature of its cultivation is the development of small, hard offsets called “corms” that form at the base of the main bulb. These corms are not true cloves and must be planted separately. A corm takes two seasons to mature: in the first year, it produces a single, cloveless round bulb, which must be replanted to yield a segmented bulb the following year.
Like hardneck varieties, Elephant Garlic benefits from the removal of its flowering stalk to redirect the plant’s energy into bulb enlargement. The harvest is typically ready in mid-to-late summer when the lower leaves begin to yellow and dry out, about eight months after a fall planting. Once cured, the bulbs possess a moderate storage life, often keeping well for several months, though generally not as long as softneck varieties.