Without garlic, our dishes would be so bland. Sometimes a few cloves are enough to season and give flavor to the most tasteless dish. It is clear that this condiment has a privileged place in our pantry. But by the way, wouldn’t you like to have a lot in the kitchen? Of course it’s possible. Just grow it at home! Wow, don’t you have a garden or orchard? It’s your lucky day: thanks to our little trick, you won’t even need it. Just grab some toothpicks and you’ll have lots of fresh garlic galore. Come on, shall we start?

How to grow garlic at home?

Garlic is essential in every kitchen. Its pulps can be tasted in many ways: chopped, ground into puree, powdered, granulated… They can be eaten raw, sautéed, marinated, steamed, etc. But, garlic is gaining popularity especially in our gardens. More and more people are entering into this home culture. And, you don’t need to have a green thumb, even beginners can easily grow it and look forward to a bountiful harvest. You should know that garlic comes in several varieties. Which is good, since you will have the option to select them according to your tastes and your daily recipes.

These are the two main categories:

• Hardneck garlic, also known as “wood garlic.” It forms a rigid central seed stalk and produces garlic flowers. It has a strong and spicy flavor, but its shelf life is quite short.
• Softneck garlic whose upper part of the stem remains soft and flexible. Does not produce garlic flowers. Its flavor is more subtle and sweet. And this type of garlic can be stored for six months or more.
• Grow it at home from a clove of garlic.

So, the question that burns your lips: how to   grow garlic   at home? You just need to follow a few steps diligently.

• This first phase must be observed religiously: take a clove and immediately cut the garlic from the apical part. Shoots will form there, while roots will grow from the base.
• Then place 3 toothpicks, not inside but between the wedges, each designed to cover 120° of circumference. Place them top to bottom at 45°.
• Now let’s move on to the next step: place the head of garlic on a glass, which will be suspended given the presence of the toothpicks.
• Then, pour water into the glass so that it covers the base of the garlic by about 1 cm.
• Now all you have to do is keep the glass in a bright place. Now let nature do its work.
• After a week, remove the toothpicks and skin. Separate the garlic sprouts, plant them 10cm apart and let them emerge from the soil.
• Remember to water them weekly.

How to plant garlic in a pot?

If you don’t have a garden and want to grow garlic in a pot, it is not complicated. To plant this seasoning, separate the head of garlic into individual cloves.  Save the larger pods   for planting and use the smaller ones for your next meal. Get a pot 30 cm in diameter and 20 cm deep, with drainage holes.

Now let’s get to the point:

1. Push each clove into the potting soil with your finger, pointing up, so that the base is about 3 inches below the soil surface. But remember that the soil will settle a little after watering.
2. Important point: Be sure to space your capsules 3 to 4 inches apart, especially avoid squeezing them together. Because, to form big heads, they need space.
3. Once the pods are planted, water them and place a layer of mulch (1 to 2 inches thick) over the pot. This layer helps insulate the bulbs, especially in winter.
4. For good growth, make sure the potting soil is rich, well-drained, and well exposed to light. But, for them to grow in very good conditions, the best time to plant them is autumn. Bulbs bloom best in cooler temperatures.
5. Attention: it is essential to keep the pot sufficiently moist throughout the life of the garlic. Yes, you got it, you have to water it frequently for the next 8 to 9 months, even during the cold months.

Once you have mastered   growing garlic in pots  , you will understand that lack of water is the main culprit for bulb death.

In early spring, you will be delighted to see the appearance of small green shoots. Wait a little longer, they will soon turn into big green stalks. In the meantime, put the pot of garlic back in the sun and continue watering it regularly. To enhance growth, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of granulated organic fertilizer suitable for garlic bulbs on the surface of the soil. You see, around June, a curly flower stem will show the tip of its nose. You will then need to trim it back to divert the plant’s energy towards growing a larger bulb. From there, all you have to do is wait for the plant to grow slowly, until the foliage turns about 50% yellow. Then it will be the right time to harvest!

When can we harvest garlic?

Generally, garlic leaves begin to turn yellow in early summer. As soon as you notice that they are half yellow, you can empty the pot and dig up the garlic heads. The bulbs are now ready to be harvested! A piece of advice: do not delay the harvest, because the bulbs end up opening and keep worse when harvested quite late. How to remove them without damaging them? Using a fork, carefully dig them out. There you have it, you will save a lot of money, since from now on, you will not run out of garlic at home!