Great name, and not, in fact, a true type of garlic. Much larger than your average garlic, elephant garlic (allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum) is more closely related to the leek. There is dispute, in fact, as to the exact botanical status of the plant. But authorities such as Colin Simpson say that it was discovered in America in the 1940's on an abandoned settlement inhabited by immigrants from Eastern Europe and was perhaps grown in Britain long before then.

Give it a go - elephant garlic has a milder flavour and is also a stunning plant it itself, with purple flowers.

When growing, you will sometimes find that the bulb does not split into cloves in the first year of growth. In this case, replant the same bulb. Keep an eye out for the flowering head, and chop it off.

Treat as for garlic, but increase spacing to around 30cm.