In addition to being considered a true superfood offering many health benefits, garlic is also an essential ingredient that adds a unique flavor to all our culinary recipes. So imagine being able to enjoy all its benefits without having to buy it every time you shop at the supermarket? Would it be possible to germinate garlic easily at home? Apparently YES… Explanation!
To plant garlic, we all know the classic method, you have to have a garden! But what if we told you that we have a much simpler technique? No more worries regarding weather, soil, mulch and weeds! All you need is a clove of garlic, a glass of water and some sunshine. Up to you !
Is it possible to grow garlic indoors?
Growing Garlic Indoors – Source: spm
You can perfectly grow garlic as a houseplant. It is sufficient that :
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- Your pot should be equipped with a drainage hole at the bottom.
- Your plant is placed in a bright place where it can benefit from the sun’s rays.
- You place your plant in a dry room. Garlic fears excess water and humidity.
However, growing garlic at home can have some downsides. And it lies in the way of growing it indoors which is somewhat different. It is clearly impossible to expect your pods to turn into real bulbs following a few weeks in the ground. Sure, you can harvest garlic leaves instead, which can be chopped raw to toss into salads, garnish soups, add flavor to stir-fries, and enhance the taste of plenty of recipes!
Growing garlic in water – Source: spm
If you live in an apartment or lack the space to grow garlic in your garden, our nifty method is a great alternative. Follow the guide to see how to do it:
- Select the right garlic cloves: it is a necessary step dear readers! Opt for sprouted pods (those with a small green button at the top). Otherwise, you will have to take a whole bulb and cut the pointed end with a knife.
- Prepare your container: provide yourself with a transparent glass bowl (to follow the germination of your plant) which can contain regarding 250 g of water.
- Separate the garlic bulbs into individual cloves: place each clove (with its skin) along the sides of the container, making sure the pointed or sprouted end is facing up.
- Add water: fill your container with lukewarm water, just enough to cover the bottom of your garlic clove. It is important not to submerge them, because they may die!
- Wait a moment: place your container in a very sunny spot for regarding a week. But do not forget to replace the water if necessary. If the tops of the pods begin to change color and turn brownish, put your bowl out of direct sunlight for 1 or 2 days.
- Harvest the garlic sprouts: as soon as the young plants reach at least 8 cm in height. Cut them with scissors. That said, only take the amount you need, as these quickly lose their flavor. Also keep in mind that following the first harvest, your garlic will definitely not produce any more shoots.
- Enjoy: with these simple steps, you can now enjoy your garlic for your cooking needs!
Here is a video to guide you step by step:
Vegetables are usually grown from seeds, but to grow garlic you simply need to plant individual cloves! Check out our guide to show you how:
- To start, cut the bottom half of a 5 liter container and make 4 holes in the bottom.
- Fill your pot with potting soil and make 3 holes regarding 10 cm deep.
- Carefully remove 3 garlic cloves from the water, being careful not to damage the roots.
Garlic clove with roots – Source: spm
- Then, cut the roots slightly, regarding 3 cm from the stem.
- Insert one clove per hole (stem side up) and cover them with a little soil.
- Pour the water from the bowl the garlic cloves or head were in into your new pot.
Growing garlic in a 5 liter container – Source: spm
- All you have to do is wait a few weeks, dear readers, and your potted garlic will be ready to eat!
You can also use this technique to plant garlic directly in your garden soil.
If you want to be successful in planting garlic, it is essential to follow a methodical and well-defined program! It should therefore be noted that garlic generally requires a cold period (0 to 10°C) to produce quality bulbs, i.e. 1 to 2 months. This is why gardeners usually plant it in late fall or early winter. In other words, to obtain satisfactory results, it is necessary to proceed between October and February. However, for your information dear readers, some varieties are suitable for planting in early spring.
How to grow garlic in the garden or in a vegetable patch?
Growing garlic in your garden – Source: spm
- Prepare your floor: garlic needs a sunny, well-drained place to grow. Avoid, however, planting it in acidic soil (with a pH below 6.5).
- Plant your pods : break the bulbs into individual pods and while keeping their skin, bury them at a depth of 3 to 4 cm below the soil surface, root end at the bottom and pointed end at the top! Please space them 15cm from each other.
- Water your plants: during dry spells, be sure to water your garlic well to promote bulb growth. Avoid wetting the leaves, as this can lead to fungal diseases. Stop watering completely during the last weeks of growth (yellow foliage and well-formed bulbs).
How long does it take to grow garlic?
Growing your own garlic from cloves takes regarding 6-7 months. If you plant the garlic cloves in the middle of winter, you can enjoy them between June and August.
How to harvest garlic?
Harvesting garlic – Source: spm
If you’re wondering when is the best time to harvest garlic, just watch for the signs that your plant is ready: yellow or brown leaves and drooping heads. Need to know how to harvest? Follow our advice:
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- Carefully dig up the garlic bulbs from the ground using a gardening fork.
- Then, dry them thoroughly by exposing them to sunlight or placing them in a dry, well-ventilated place. The drying process takes between 2 to 4 weeks. Be careful, if mold appears, use a fan heater to speed up drying.
- Once the garlic leaves become very dry and crisp, cut the bulbs and store them in a dry place so that they will keep for several months.
Please note :
If you harvest too early, the pods won’t be well formed, and if you harvest it late, the bulbs may open and not keep for long!
As you will have understood, dear readers, growing garlic is very easy at home, and you do not need to have a space dedicated to planting it to grow it.
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