How to Harvest Russian Garlic

Allium ampeloprasum, also known as Russian or elephant garlic, is not a true garlic; it's a close relative of leeks. Home gardeners often choose Russian garlic over the real thing because it's much easier to grow. This hardy plant will grow in warmer, more humid areas than true garlic. It grows with little to no care at all and tastes like a milder version of its namesake. It will be ready to harvest roughly 90 days after planting.

Trowel
String

Instructions

- 1
  Wait until the Russian garlic bulb's flowers die and the stem begins to yellow and die back.
- 2
  Dig up the Russian garlic bulb with a trowel. Insert the trowel roughly 4 inches into the soil, angled toward the bulb to loosen the soil. Work the trowel around the bulb. Once the soil around the bulb is loose, pull the Russian garlic bulb up.
- 3
  Brush the dirt off of the garlic. Peel off the dirty outer layer of skin and discard it.
- 4
  Cut the garlic stem to 3 inches above the bulb.
- 5
  Tie a string around the garlic's stem and hang the bulbs in a cool spot out of direct sunlight until the garlic's skin dries out. The bulbs will store that way for 10 months.

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