How to plant garlic in water?
Today, discover our guide to planting garlic in water and benefit from an inexhaustible supply at home. With minimal effort and some extra savings! You will see, it is a simple and quick trick to perform. What will you need? A garlic bulb, a plastic bottle, scissors and water.
Don’t have a green thumb? Do not panic, even a beginner can get started without a headache. Just follow these 8 steps to the letter:
Step 1
Get a clove of garlic. You can easily find them in your usual supermarket or at your market gardener. But, above all, make sure that the bulbs are large enough, fresh and not too dry. Thus, you will be able to multiply them from their roots.
Step 2
Make a cut in the upper part of the garlic bulb. Be sure to perform this operation with scissors or a well-disinfected knife. You will be able to start the germination process to give birth to a new plant. A tip: cut the upper part and not the central part, because this is what will help keep the garlic whole.
Step 3
Take a small plastic bottle, cut it, removing its neck with a sharp and sharp tool. It is inside that you will introduce the whole garlic bulb keeping it well curled.
Step 4
Fill the water bottle and place the garlic bulb in it, the root down and the cut part up.
It is necessary to ensure that the water of the bottle touches the bottom of the bulb correctly, so that the roots can develop in the best conditions.
Warning
It is important to store this bottle in a well-lit place exposed to the morning sun.
Step 5
This step is decisive since it refers to the development of the roots. For a few days, monitor the evolution and changes that the bulb undergoes, because it is precisely during this period that the roots begin to grow in the bottle water. It is therefore essential to check the state of the water: at any time, if you notice that it becomes dark or cloudy, remember to replace it with clean and pure water.
Step 6
As the days go by, the garlic bulb begins to grow upwards and the roots downwards filling the entire bottle. You should see abundant green growth. From there, you can start harvesting the roots for your daily cooking needs.
Step 7
Want to get more bulbs? In this case, you will need to start a planting process. Separate the bulbs and clusters of pods you want to plant and prepare a pot with a good substrate.
Step 8
Now proceed to grow them as individual plants. Concretely, it is necessary to fill the pot, hoping that it has enough space for their growth. Bury the garlic bulbs, taking care to separate them at a certain distance from each other.
They must be watered enough (but without excess!), and leave them in a suitable place where they will receive enough sunlight.
And that’s it, the deal is in the bag! And, one thing is certain, there is nothing more satisfying than tasting a food that you have grown yourself…
FYI
- Garlic tends to grow much better in soil containing organic matter.
- Leave the jar with the garlic bulbs exposed to the sun for at least 6 hours.
- Important point to remember: you should never let the soil dry, always keep the substrate sufficiently moist, but not excessively either. At the risk of rotting the garlic.
What is the best month to plant garlic?
There are two times of the year when garlic heads can be sown: October to November or January to March. The substrate or soil where you plant garlic must be light, it is an essential given, so that it is well drained and the water does not stagnate.
How long does it take to grow garlic?
Ah, it takes a little patience! It takes about 8 to 9 months for a small clove of garlic planted to turn into a head of garlic ready to be harvested.
When to harvest garlic?
Ideally, the right time to pick garlic depends on several key criteria:
- In particular, the number of green leaves on the plant is a reliable indicator. Generally, when more than half of the leaves of a garlic plant are dry, the plant is considered ripe.
- It is also necessary to take into consideration the dimensions of the garlic cloves specific to the variety grown.
- Remember: a sunny day, without the risk of precipitation, is ideal for harvesting garlic heads. Harvested bulbs should be kept in the shade or dried for a period of 7 to 10 days. Dry leaves should be well cleaned and the roots cut (leaving a quarter on the bulb).
FAQ
When should garlic be planted in winter?
Always remember to plant your garlic a little before the first frosts of the year, but especially avoid doing it just before a big frost. Be aware that garlic does not tolerate hot weather, so it is better to consider planting it once temperatures begin to cool gradually. In most cases, ideally, the right time in winter is between September and November.
When can garlic be planted?
The good news is that this plant requires little moisture, and its maintenance is rather simple. There are two ideal planting seasons: October to November and January to March. As you go, you will witness the growth of the leaves. What about the famous lunar calendar? According to some beliefs, the rising or falling moon would have any impact on the cultivation of plants. It is said that planting should always be done when the moon is waning and that the best time of harvest is when it is growing. It would therefore be more conducive to make your plants stronger, full of vitality and resistance to diseases. It is therefore better to plant garlic on a waning moon to benefit from better quality. On the other hand, the climate is not very important although it is a dry plant. But, on the other hand, if it is colder, the garlic will be spicier and therefore tastier.
What are the watering conditions?
When planting garlic in winter, watering often becomes superfluous, since the cold season naturally maintains good humidity and is usually marked by abundant rainfall. However, during very dry winters or springs, it is still advisable to water it a little, depending on the extent of the drought. It is always good to moisten the soil, but it should never be overwatered either, as the bulb may rot. For the rest, there is little to worry. One of the strengths of this plant is its resistance to pests and diseases, although some larvae can sometimes attack the bulb. To avoid this kind of disappointment, the ideal would be to carry out preventive treatments from mid-April (or even at the end of the month), when temperatures soften and humidity intensifies.
