From Flask to Field: Starting Garlic in Water and Moving it to Your Garden

Growing garlic plant from cloves / How to grow garlic in your home garden

City Farming: Growing Garlic from Scratch with a Simple Plastic Bottle

City dwellers are finding innovative ways to engage with agriculture, and urban farming is on the rise. A simple plastic bottle can become the starting point for your next gardening venture. Garlic, celebrated for its medicinal properties and flavor-enhancing abilities, is a great choice for such endeavors. Let’s delve into how you can kickstart garlic growth in a plastic bottle, later moving it to an earthen medium.

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Essentials for the Process

Before embarking on this gardening journey, make sure you have:

1- Garlic Bulbs: It’s best to choose organic garlic bulbs. If possible, source them from local vendors or organic stores. Conventional bulbs might contain chemicals that restrict growth.

2- Clear Plastic Container: An old, transparent soda or mineral water bottle that’s been cleaned will work perfectly.

3- Water: Ensure the water is free from chlorine. If you’re using tap water, let it stand for a day so the chlorine dissipates.

4- Quality Soil: After the garlic shows signs of growth, you’ll need nutrient-rich soil to transplant it.

5- A Planting Vessel: This could be a pot or a dedicated spot in your urban garden where the garlic will continue its growth journey.

Initiating Garlic Growth

Step1: Prepping the Bottle

Trim the upper portion of your plastic bottle, ensuring you have around two-thirds left as the nurturing space for your garlic cloves. The container should be spotless and without any blemishes or cracks.

Step 2: Picking and Preparing the Garlic Cloves

Handpick robust, sizeable garlic cloves, as they often yield larger bulbs. Carefully strip off the outer skin, making sure the core clove remains untouched.

Step 3: Setting the Cloves in Place

Position the garlic cloves in the bottle so that their flat base (previously connected to the bulb’s center) points downward – this is the origin of the roots. Ensure you space out the cloves, allowing room for expansion.

Step 4: Hydration

Pour water into the bottle, just enough to immerse the bottom segment of the cloves, leaving the upper portion dry to thwart decay.

Step 5: Locating the Setup

Place your bottle where it can bathe in sunlight. Adequate sun exposure is crucial for the thriving growth of garlic.

Step 6: Daily Care

Inspect the water levels daily, ensuring the forming roots remain submerged. Refresh the water every 48 hours to curtail the onset of any detrimental microorganisms.

Step 7: Observing Growth

Within approximately seven days, you’ll witness green sprouts stretching from the peak of the cloves, while root strands expand at the base. These developments signify your garlic’s successful initiation into growth.

Setting Garlic Roots in Earth

Step 8: Groundwork

After witnessing your garlic sprouts in the bottle, it’s time to prep either a garden bed or a pot. Seek out potting soil that’s laden with organic nutrients and has excellent water-draining capabilities.

Step 9: Root Relocation

With utmost care, extract the budding garlic cloves from their makeshift bottle home. As you do this, take caution not to harm the fragile roots. Bury them in the soil ensuring that the sprouted green shoots are peeping out of the earth.

Step 10: Nurturing After Moving

Drench the soil immediately post the garlic’s relocation. Keep an eye on the moisture levels, ensuring the soil remains damp but avoids turning into a puddle. Position the pot or the dedicated garden spot where it can bask in sunlight.

Harvest Time

Your patience will be rewarded when you notice the majority of the garlic leaves turning a rustic brown. This transformation typically takes around 7-8 months, although some variations may arise depending on garlic type and nurturing conditions.