Hydroponic Garlic: Methods and Step-by-Step Guide

In recent years a new type of cultivation method has appeared, namely hydroponic technology. It is not like traditional soil cultivation and planting; hydroponics means growing plants in water. At present many vegetables have adopted this technology, and garlic is one of them. The quality of garlic grown hydroponically is also very high.

Hydroponic Garlic Methods

1. Take the garlic; you can peel off the cloves and place them in a container, which suits relatively small containers, or you can peel off the outermost skin of the garlic head, directly exposing the cloves, and place it in the container.

2. Add water directly, just enough to cover the bottom of the garlic; this helps rooting.

3. Generally change the water once every 1~2 days to keep the water fresh. In the early stage you can go 3 consecutive days without changing the water, to help it stay fixed; after rooting and fixing, the water can be changed more frequently.

4. Generally after hydroponics, roots can form the same day, and green can be seen after 2~4 days.

Precautions for Hydroponic Garlic

1. Temperatures of 10~25°C are all suitable for the growth of garlic leaves.

2. The basal plate at the bottom of the garlic head is where roots will grow later; if there is no basal plate, it cannot root or grow leaves.

3. If you break it apart clove by clove, then each clove must have a basal plate.

4. Be careful when peeling, do not injure the garlic head; if it is injured, the broken part will later rot and become moldy.

5. You can use a container for hydroponic hyacinths; this container is better for holding the garlic cloves in place. You can also use a vegetable washing basket.

6. Place the garlic cloves with the basal plate facing down, neatly in the basket, not too crowded, because they will expand a bit after contact with water. At the beginning do not change the water, just add water, so as not to disturb them.

7. Find a container of suitable size, pour in clean water, and it is enough if the water surface can touch the basal plate.

8. After about 4 or 5 days roots and root hairs will grow, and afterwards you can change the water regularly. Generally after about 30 days you can harvest; cut off the garlic leaves and wait for the next growth.

Care Methods for Hydroponic Garlic

1. Early hydroponic stage (0~5 days): the main thing is to let the garlic cloves root; only add water, do not change the water, so as not to disturb them. Under normal circumstances, within 5 days of hydroponics, all the seedlings will emerge.

2. Middle hydroponic stage (5~45 days): during this period, the garlic roots are already fully fixed, and care is very easy; you only need to change the water regularly, and it is recommended to change the water once every 5~7 days. Usually, after two weeks of hydroponics, a very good ornamental effect can be achieved (a garlic sprout forest initially forms). If you let it grow fully, then during 25~35 days of hydroponics is the best harvest time; harvest the first crop, keep the garlic cloves and garlic roots, and they will sprout again later.

3. Late hydroponic stage (after 45 days): this period is generally the growth time of the second crop of garlic sprouts (provided they are harvested after full growth). At this time the garlic roots tend to grow green algae, so when changing the water, additionally wash the root system 1~2 times. Also, at this time garlic cloves very easily rot or shrink; if you find this, remove them promptly. This is also the time when hydroponic garlic easily gives off an odor; the effective treatment is to increase the frequency of water changes (from once every 5~7 days to once every 2~3 days). When changing the water, also remove the rotten or shrunken garlic cloves. Usually, after the last crop of garlic sprouts has grown fully, harvest them completely together with the roots. After harvesting with the roots, this round of hydroponic garlic is completely finished.

Harvesting Hydroponic Garlic

Generally you can harvest 2~3 crops in succession. For the first few crops you can take only the part above the garlic cloves (the white stem); for the last crop, harvest directly together with the roots. The standard for harvesting the last crop: when the nutrients in the garlic cloves in the water are completely exhausted. As long as the season is suitable, you can then proceed to the next round of hydroponic garlic, with the same method as above. Generally, from October to the Spring Festival of the following year, you can do 3~4 rounds of hydroponics in succession, and each round can last 40~50 days, ensuring that from late autumn to early spring you can continuously enjoy fresh green garlic sprouts.

The method of hydroponic garlic is relatively simple. When choosing garlic, choose good quality; be sure to be careful when removing the garlic skin, because if you damage it, rot will occur. Also change the water in the container in a timely way, to ensure its growing environment and promote healthy growth.