Growing Elephant garlic from seed

[veggiechicken]

Elephant garlic is normally grown from the cloves/bulbils at the base but, has anyone grown it from seed?

I may have done it unintentionally as there were some young EGs growing outside the permanent EG bed but I'm not 100% sure.

Given that EGs are part of the leek family and leeks are grown from seed, it should work but take longer to form usable cloves.

If the EG flower heads survive all this rain, I shall be experimenting

[SarrissUK]

I've never seen elephant garlic seeds for sale, but if I do come across them, I'll try that too! I don't like the prices of elephant garlic in the seed catalogues!

[Jay-ell]

Seeds available here
Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum --- Rareplants.eu Shop

My ellies are in full bloom at the moment as well so I'll have to see if I get seed from them and if so I'll join you.

Strangely enough my babingtons are in bloom. One lot has the usual bulbils but the other doesn't have any and just flowers. I'll see if they produce seed as well.

[Snadger]

Hi VC. Are you sure you actually have small black seeds and not small bulbils at the top of the garlic scape?

If they are actually seeds I would be very interested in the outcome of your experiment.

[veggiechicken]

I'll have a look when the rain stops

[Scarlet]

I’m sure they get seeds...but I’ve just looked at one in the shed and there isn’t any to be seen and it’s pouring down and I’m not going up to the top of the garden!

This blog is worth a read :
Garlic Analecta: Growing Garlic From True Seed

[Jay-ell]

Hi VC. Are you sure you actually have small black seeds and not small bulbils at the top of the garlic scape?

If they are actually seeds I would be very interested in the outcome of your experiment.

VC's on about Elephant Garlic rather than regular garlic. I've had Elephant Garlic produce bulbils before - once when it was under stress (in a pot irregularly watered) and also when I shaved the flowers.

Usually I harvest and eat the scapes but the ones in the permenant patch have a few flowers so I'll let them to it.

The seed isn't ripe yet - when does leek seed ripen - I remember the bulbils were ready in November.

[Snadger]

VC's on about Elephant Garlic rather than regular garlic. I've had Elephant Garlic produce bulbils before - once when it was under stress (in a pot irregularly watered) and also when I shaved the flowers.

Usually I harvest and eat the scapes but the ones in the permenant patch have a few flowers so I'll let them to it.

The seed isn't ripe yet - when does leek seed ripen - I remember the bulbils were ready in November.

From what I have read Elephant garlic doesn't have seeds only bulbils. Leek seed usually matures in either October or November depending on variety methinks. Yes I did realise it was elephant garlic VC was dealing with.

[Snadger]

I’m sure they get seeds...but I’ve just looked at one in the shed and there isn’t any to be seen and it’s pouring down and I’m not going up to the top of the garden!

This blog is worth a read :
Garlic Analecta: Growing Garlic From True Seed

Brilliaant article Scarlet

[veggiechicken]

The rain stopped.................but my camera battery ran out after 2 photos

Perennial Leek with bulbils



Elephant Garlic flower head



The EG looks identical to the normal leek flower heads that I couldn't photograph.

[Jay-ell]

That's how mine look.

Looks like it's working on the seeds now.

[Snadger]

I would put paper bag over it secured at the stem, to catch the seeds when they ripen. I believe that EG is actually a leek and not a garlic? If so, the seed head looks much like a leek seed head and should produce lots of seeds!