No Garden? No Problem—How to Grow Garlic in Your Home

Many gardeners struggle with bland store-bought garlic and limited growing seasons. By planting our garlic cloves and bulbs, you can harvest fresh, flavorful garlic year-round right in the comfort of your home. Here is a complete guide on how to grow garlic indoors, including planting techniques and maintenance tips for fresh homegrown garlic year-round.

TL;DR

• Plant individual garlic cloves, pointy end up, in well-draining potting mix.

• Use a deep container with drainage holes and space cloves 3-4 inches apart.

• Choose softneck garlic for reliable indoor bulbs, or hardneck garlic for edible scapes.

• Give indoor garlic at least 6-8 hours of bright light daily and keep the soil consistently moist, not soggy.

• Harvest garlic greens when they are a few inches tall, or harvest full bulbs when the lower leaves turn yellow or brown.

• Cure harvested bulbs for 2-4 weeks in a dry, well-ventilated area before storing.

How to Grow Garlic Indoors

To grow garlic indoors, separate healthy garlic cloves and plant each clove pointy-end up, about 1-2 inches deep, in a pot with a well-draining potting mix. Set adequate 3-4 inches spacing between cloves to enable proper development. Water gently and provide at least 6-8 hours of bright light daily.

Imagine the delight of having a continuous supply of aromatic garlic, fresh from your indoor garden. Whether it's for your daily cooking needs or you want to try selling garlic, you can start your garlic gardening journey indoors with these simple steps. 

1. Choose the Right Garlic Type to Grow Indoors

For successful indoor cultivation, the first step is to select the appropriate type of garlic. Some types are better suited to container growing than others.

• Opt for softneck varieties: Softneck garlic varieties, such as Italian Red, are generally more adaptable to indoor conditions and produce large bulbs without requiring a cold stratification period.
• Consider hardneck varieties for scapes: Hardneck garlic varieties like German White can be grown indoors.
• Source healthy, undamaged bulbs: Use high-quality, organic garlic bulbs like Zemo. Make sure they are firm, free of blemishes, and have no signs of rot or mold.

2. Gather Your Tools

Having your necessary tools ready before you begin streamlines the indoor garlic planting process.

• Containers that are at least 6-8 inches deep and have drainage holes
• Well-draining potting mix
• Small trowel or scoop
• Watering can
• Pruning shears
• Grow light (optional)
  

3. Prepare Your Garlic Cloves

Proper preparation of your garlic cloves encourages healthy root development and successful sprouting.

• Separate cloves: Carefully break apart the garlic bulb into individual cloves. Be cautious not to damage the papery skin or the basal plate.
• Choose the largest cloves: The largest, healthiest garlic cloves tend to produce the strongest garlic plants and biggest bulbs.
• Soak cloves (optional): Soaking garlic cloves in warm water for a few hours can rehydrate them and encourage quicker sprouting.
• Consider cold stratification: Do this when attempting to grow hardneck garlic for bulbs indoors. Place individual cloves in a refrigerator for 4-8 weeks to mimic winter conditions and encourage bulbing.

4. Plant the Cloves

Properly preparing your containers provides a healthy environment for your garlic to thrive indoors. Correct planting depth and spacing can maximize the potential of each garlic clove when you plant garlic.

• Check for drainage holes: See if the drainage holes at the bottom of the container are unobstructed to prevent waterlogging, which can lead to root rot.
• Add a layer of potting mix: Fill your containers with a base layer of well-draining soil, leaving a few inches from the rim. Lightly moisten the potting soil.
• Plant cloves pointy end up: Place each garlic clove pointy end facing upwards into the moistened potting mix, with the flat, root-forming end facing down.
• Bury cloves to the correct depth: Plant cloves about 1-2 inches deep, with soil fully covering the garlic cloves.
• Maintain adequate spacing: Space garlic plants approximately 3-4 inches apart within the container for sufficient root and bulb development without overcrowding. Cover the planted cloves with additional potting mix.

5. Water, Maintain, and Prune the Plant

Consistent watering helps establish roots and promotes the growth of first shoots. Ongoing pruning and diligent maintenance promote robust growth and healthy garlic plants indoors.

• Water thoroughly: After planting, water garlic thoroughly until you see water draining from the bottom of the pot. Do this gently to avoid disturbing the newly planted cloves.
• Monitor soil moisture regularly: Check the soil moisture daily by sticking your finger about an inch into the soil. If it feels dry, it's time to water again.
• Provide adequate light: Provide at least 6-8 hours of bright, direct light daily.
• Fertilize sparingly: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength every 2-4 weeks.
• Monitor for pests and diseases: Inspect your plants for signs of common houseplant pests like aphids or spider mites. Use organic pest control methods.
• Remove yellowing leaves: Trim decaying lower leaves to improve air circulation and prevent fungal issues.

6. Harvest, Cure, and Store the Garlic

For garlic bulbs, wait until the lower leaves turn yellow and dry, typically around 8 months after planting. The top three to five leaves should still be green.

• Harvest garlic greens: Snip the tops once they are a few inches tall, leaving at least an inch or two of growth to allow the plant to continue producing.
• Gently loosen soil and pull bulbs: Before pulling, loosen the soil around the bulbs with a small trowel to avoid damaging the bulbs during extraction. Gently pull the entire plant from the soil.
• Clean bulbs: Brush off as much soil as possible from the bulbs. Avoid washing them with water, as this can hinder the curing process.
• Cure garlic: Hang the harvested garlic in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated area for 2-4 weeks to cure.
• Store cured garlic: Store your indoor-grown seed garlic in a cool, dry, and dark place with good air circulation, such as a mesh bag or an open basket.

Related Questions

Does Garlic Grow Well Indoors?

Garlic grows exceptionally well indoors if it gets proper lighting, well-draining soil, and consistent care throughout its growing cycle. Indoor vegetable cultivation offers the advantage of year-round growing potential and protection from outdoor pests and weather extremes.

Can You Grow Garlic From a Clove?

You can grow garlic from a single clove, as each clove contains everything needed to develop into a full garlic bulb. Simply plant individual cloves pointed-end up in well-draining soil, and each one will eventually form a complete bulb with multiple new cloves.

How Long Does It Take to Grow a Full Bulb of Garlic?

Growing a full bulb of garlic typically takes 6-9 months from planting to harvest, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Indoor garlic may develop slightly faster due to controlled temperature and lighting.

Can I Plant Grocery Store Garlic Indoors?

You can plant grocery-store garlic indoors, though seed garlic is usually more reliable. Grocery store garlic may be treated to delay sprouting, but it may not be well-suited to your growing conditions.

How Long From Planting To Harvest? 

Typically, 8 to 10 months for fall-planted garlic and 4 to 6 months for early spring plantings that had enough winter chill.

Can I Grow Garlic Indoors Year-Round?

You can grow garlic greens in pots under lights, but forming full bulbs indoors is difficult without strong light and seasonal temperature cues.

Why Remove Scapes on Hardneck Garlic?

Removing scapes helps redirect the plant’s energy from flower production back into bulb development. Scapes are also edible and can be used in sautés, pesto, stir-fries, and other recipes.

How Do I Know It Is Ready?

Harvest when the bottom third to half of the leaves have browned, and the upper leaves are still green.

Conclusion

Learning how to plant garlic indoors transforms your cooking with fresh, aromatic bulbs available whenever you need them. Are you ready to save money and get a steady supply of garlic? Achieve garlic self-sufficiency by purchasing high-quality seed garlic specifically selected for indoor growing success.