Growing Garlic Hydroponically on my Windowsill: General Discussion and Forum Games

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

I've come to the conclusion that this is a great way to get garlic started, but pretty much sucks for continued growth. I didn't realize how extensive the root system for garlic is. I bet it would fill the entire peanut jar by the time it was done.

I planted the one pictured in some rich soil when the leaves started to get limp which to me says malnutrition. I dropped another clove in the hole and it had a mass of inch long roots and a small leaf stalk poking out in 3-4 days.

Ziggy · **Site Rank:** Healthy BBF

joebert wrote:

I've come to the conclusion that this is a great way to get garlic started, but pretty much sucks for continued growth. I didn't realize how extensive the root system for garlic is. I bet it would fill the entire peanut jar by the time it was done.

I planted the one pictured in some rich soil when the leaves started to get limp which to me says malnutrition. I dropped another clove in the hole and it had a mass of inch long roots and a small leaf stalk poking out in 3-4 days.

So are they both still growing now? We need another photo.

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

The first one is outside and I'm not up to hobbling out there to photograph it, but I do have some photos of the new one on my window sill.

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Ziggy · **Site Rank:** Healthy BBF

Wow, it's getting lots of roots on it... if that's what they are called. Yeah, stay off your foot, we can wait for a picture when your foot is better!! :cap-smile:

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

Wow, that thing really grew!

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

Well my original garlic plant isn't looking very good outside. It's pretty much just a single thin withering leaf. The leaves started to get droopy while in my peanut jar which is part of the reason I put it in dirt to begin with. I'm not sure what's wrong with it.

Here are some new photos of my second plant though. I took the netting out and rigged it in place with a couple of soft hair ties.
Here's the last photo for reference

Here's the plant now.
So this is about 5 days worth of growth (from the time of the last photo) in just water sitting on a window sill that gets morning sunlight.

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I'm going to make this work somehow. One of these days I'm going to use some of this garlic I've grown in something I cook, dangit !

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

joebert wrote:

I'm going to make this work somehow. One of these days I'm going to use some of this garlic I've grown in something I cook, dangit !

Ha! That's what I'm looking forward to. I want to hear about you eating some of this garlic and letting us know how it tastes!

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

A month later, not looking so well. I have crushed egg shells in the water. I think just tried to grow it during the wrong part of the year, apparently it likes colder weather and it's getting hot around here. I'll try some plant food, I'm going to run out to Home Depot to get a few things for a tomato plant here in a few minutes.

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tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

Oh man, that's too bad!

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

Well, my garlic died again. I think I'm going to wait until later in the year to try again, and I'm going to transplant to soil as soon as I get roots next time. This water gardening stuff is tricky !

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