How to Grow Garlic Indoors for Newbies

The following guest blog post is by Ann Sanders, founder and editor of A Green
Hand.
If you like to cook with garlic, it’s easy to grow this tasty bulb in your indoor
kitchen garden. Try these simple steps to planting, cultivating and harvesting
garlic.
Garlic can thrive in any season. It can even grow in winter. Follow these step-by-
step instructions, and you’ll have a readily available supply of garlic chives and
garlic bulbs in your indoor garden.
What you need:
1. Container with drainage holes for planting
The pot should be at least 8 inches (20 centimeters) deep and wide. The more
cloves you plant, the larger the container should be. Figure on enough space for
planting each clove 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 centimeters) apart.
2. Garlic bulbs
Most of the garlic you find in the supermarket has been chemically treated, so it
won’t sprout. If the garlic bulb won’t sprout, it’s not going to grow for you.
Buy garlic bulbs from a nursery or from a retailer that sells organically grown
garlic bulbs. Green sprouts coming out of the top of the garlic bulb are an
indication that it has sprouted and will grow in your indoor garden.
Choose a large garlic bulb that contains many cloves. You’ll be planting the
individual cloves. When doing so, pick out the biggest cloves, as they will grow
into the largest garlic bulbs.
3. Soil mix

Garlic grows best in a mix that retains some moisture, yet also drains well. To get
this consistency, mix three parts organic potting soil with one part horticultural
sand. Mix well.
What to do:
1. Fill your container with soil.
Moisten the soil mix until it’s damp. Pour the mix into the container and spread
evenly. Leave the soil loose. When filling the container with soil, stop within 1
inch of the top of the pot.
2. Plant the cloves.
With the pointed part of the clove facing up, insert it into the soil. Leave the tip
exposed. Plant the cloves 3 to 4 inches apart.
3. Place the container in bright light.
Your plant should receive 8 hours of bright light daily. An unobstructed eastern or
southern-facing window works well. If you don’t have sufficient light, place the
garlic bulbs under full-spectrum lighting.
4. Water regularly.
Maintain even moisture for the garlic bulbs, but avoid soggy soil. The warmer
your house, the more water the garlic will require. Ensure that any excess
moisture runs through the pot. Avoid leaving your garlic container sitting in
water. This will cause rot.
5. Cut the leaves
For the first six months of growth, if your garlic plant starts growing green leaves,
cut them off at the base. Clipping the base allows energy to go toward growing
the bulb. The resulting garlic chives make a tasty addition to your foods. After six
months when the garlic is nearing maturity, stop clipping off the green leaves.

6. Harvest indoor grown garlic bulbs
After eight to 10 months of growing indoors, garlic is ready to harvest once the
green leaves brown and die. At this point, pull the cloves out of the soil and brush
off any dirt that is clinging.
Cure the garlic cloves after harvest. This refers to placing them in a dry location
with good air circulation and letting them hang until they’re completely dry. Once
the bulb is completely dry, you can separate it into cloves and begin using the
garlic.
Did you enjoy this tutorial? Let us know what you think in the comments below.