Thursday, May 23, 2013

elephant garlic



Elephant garlic is not really a garlic as it is a member of the onion family and is more closely related to leeks.


Though it does have a flavor more resembling garlic than leeks, it is milder and sweeter.


Also like garlic, it forms bulbs of individual cloves.


It is much larger though and a single clove can be as big as a regular garlic bulb.


They bloom in my yard late spring/early summer.


I haven't, so far, dug any of them up, much less used them in a culinary fashion.


Mostly I just enjoy the blooms, the stalks of which get nearly as tall as me. 




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14 comments:

  1. TexWisGirlMay 23, 2013 at 12:03 PM

    i like that pod just ready to burst where you can see through it. very cool balls of blooms, too.

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  2. TaborMay 23, 2013 at 12:44 PM

    Do they spread like chives(?) which if I planted in my garden would be everywhere.

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  3. OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirtsMay 23, 2013 at 12:51 PM

    I love the way they look. Such show offs. The bursting buds are just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing. I've never seen them in bloom until now. Oma Linda

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  4. ellen abbottMay 23, 2013 at 12:52 PM

    Tabor - they do not spread by seed but left undisturbed, the clump grows larger.

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  5. GailMay 23, 2013 at 2:00 PM

    We have both kinds and use both.

    Makes a good tick repellent too.

    I also love the blooms.

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  6. Joanne NoragonMay 23, 2013 at 3:02 PM

    Somewhere the honey tastes like garlic. Very striking plant.

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  7. turquoisemoonMay 23, 2013 at 3:02 PM

    Beautiful pics! I have some form of garlic or maybe they're chives, nevertheless, in my front yard. Smells wonderful when I clean around the area and break one off.

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  8. HilaryMay 23, 2013 at 5:20 PM

    That closeup of the little flowers blooming is so lovely. They remind me of chives.. only white instead of purple.

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  9. KerryMay 23, 2013 at 5:43 PM

    How beautiful. We can't grow these in our garden: too shady. That 3rd shot is my favorite.

    I wish I could grow garlic b/c I use a lot of it in cooking.

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  10. Linda SueMay 23, 2013 at 7:58 PM

    I am enraptured! The elephant garlic is other worldly and your garden is bliss! You make this planet much more lovely, Ms. Ellen!

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  11. Mr. CharlestonMay 24, 2013 at 8:54 AM

    What a beautiful garden. I'm jealous that I possess no such green thumb. But I sure love looking at gardens and eating the crop.

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  12. Steve ReedMay 25, 2013 at 2:11 AM

    Those are great. I've seen elephant garlic in the grocery store, but never in bloom in someone's yard. (At least not that I recognized.) If I were you I'd just continue to enjoy the flowers and buy garlic at the store when needed for the kitchen!

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  13. Magaly GuerreroMay 27, 2013 at 8:12 AM

    They are HUGE and GORGEOUS! I wish I had the space to plant them. Hm... I wonder how it would do in a big pot. I must investigate...

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  14. AnonymousMay 27, 2013 at 2:44 PM

    But they are delicious

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I opened my big mouth, now it's your turn.

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