Garlic is a magical plant. The cloves have antibacterial and healing properties and add a fragrant zing to every food item. Here is how you can grow garlic yourself, starting by sprouting it indoors.

Sprouting Garlic

Garlic can be grown using the cloves you already have in your kitchen! I sprouted my garlic indoors using cloves from a bulb I had inside my fridge. Garlic sprouts faster when kept at colder temperatures so place it in the fridge 1-2 weeks before you want to start growing it.

What You’ll Need

A Bulb of garlic, or as many cloves as you want to grow

A glass container or cup

A paper towel

Water

Patience

Start by peeling all of the cloves you want to sprout. Remove the filmy skin and wash the cloves.

Fold a paper towel into a small square and place at the bottom of your glass container or cup. This helps keep the moisture around the roots of your cloves and you won’t have to water it as often.

Place the cloves in the cup and fill with water until the water line reaches just over the top of the cloves.

Place by the windowsill or another light source and wait 1-2 days. You won’t need to water it during this time. The cloves should start growing little hairy roots.

Once the cloves grow roots, make sure to position them in the cup with the roots always facing down toward the water. It can be helpful to lean them up against the paper towel while they’re small.

Watch the roots grow and the garlic grow green sprigs.

When the roots reach 1-2 inches, it’s ready for planting!

Place them in dirt, covering the head of the clove and keep in sunlight.

Water regularly, but not too much.

Enjoy your garlic plants!

Sprouting in Water Vs. Dirt

I did an experiment to see which sprouting method was more effective, in water on the windowsill, or in a dirt germination tray under a grow light. Much to my surprise, the water method was faster and cleaner, yielding longer and stronger garlic roots. Check out the picture to see the difference: the clove on the left was sprouted in water, the one on the right in dirt.

Looks like water is the way to go!

Photos: Elizabeth Adan

By Elizabeth Adan

Elizabeth Adan is a Freelance Writer, Publicist and Brand Ambassador. Her blog Aquaberry Bliss is a unique outdoor lifestyle blog dedicated to expanding your world and inspiring your creativity. When Elizabeth isn’t traveling, you’ll find her writing, hiking or gardening. Find Elizabeth on Twitter @stillaporcupine and on LinkedIn.

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