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

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

So I picked up a sleeve of garlic recently, a sleeve being one of those small nets with 3-4 clove bunches in the sleeve. As I put the garlic in the bottom of the fridge in the crisper drawer I found my last garlic clove with a little green sprout growing out of the top.

As I was throwing away the small net and thinking about shoving the clove in one of my potted plants out front I noticed I had an empty peanut jar on top of my trash and I got an idea.

I cut a small, maybe 1 inch diameter hole in the peanut jar lid, then after stretching the net around the opening of the jar so the rest of the net went inside the jar, I screwed the lid back on to hold the net. Then I dropped the sprouting garlic clove down through the hole in the lid and filled it up with enough water to submerge the clove partially.

It's already got some gnarly large roots and a nice sized stalk after only maybe a week.

Ironically there's a spot in my windows blinds that has been letting the sun shine in to my eyes for awhile now, and that place on the sill has turned out to be an awesome place to set my makeshift garlic grower.

Here's a photo.

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Laughing Gravy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

Don't forget to feed it!

Nice work though, I like it!

Ziggy · **Site Rank:** Healthy BBF

Yeah, I like it too. Wonder how big the stalk can get!?!

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

Yep I'm looking in to what garlic eats now. From what I gather it likes a lot of nitrogen and fish/horse/cow poo works well. I'm pondering dropping a piece of cat turd in now and then.

Laughing Gravy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

joebert wrote:

I'm pondering dropping a piece of cat turd in now and then.

You're the one who has to eat it! :lol:

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

Laughing Gravy wrote:

You're the one who has to eat it! :lol:

That's what I was thinking!

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

Regardless of what I use, I need to quit feeding it a month before I use the garlic anyways. At least cat poo comes in nice little, ooooh, I wonder if anyone around me has a rabbit.

Laughing Gravy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

Just get a liquid plant food for vegetables, that should do the trick.

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

I'm trying to recycle though.

Ziggy · **Site Rank:** Healthy BBF

I know someone who got worms from cat poo!! ewww!!

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

Well scratch that idea. :worried:

I may just end up putting in a pinch of dirt from my potted plants. The stuff is really fertile. I really don't want to go out any buy anything new for this little project. :cap-smile:

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

Here it is 4 days later, this stuff seems to grow pretty quick. I haven't fed it yet.

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Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

Wow that plant has grown fast... what have you been feeding your cat?!? :haha:

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

I haven't given this thing anything but water yet. I might just go as long as possible without feeding it just to get a feel for what garlic likes to do. I've never grown garlic before. It would be interesting to find out if there's enough trace elements in my tap water to grow garlic without feeding it.

It's definitely starting to give off a little aroma.

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

So far the netting that purchased garlic comes in seems to work really well for this. As the roots grow I've been able to pull the bulb up out of the water which alleviates some of my concerns about rot. Since the net is springy it holds the bulb in place towards the middle of the net while the roots can drape down. The container with the hole up top holds the leaves upright. Not sure I'm going to be able to reuse the net though, the roots want to grow through the holes and I fear it's going to be more trouble to get them out than it's worth.

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