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Discover the joy of planting German Red Garlic indoors in pots. It’s an easy project for year-round fresh garlic right in your home. Ready to start?
Today I will be planting German red garlic in self-watering planters. I am using coco coir as a growing medium.
Growing Garlic Indoors Key Takeaways:
- Growing garlic indoors in pots is a simple garden project.
- It requires a suitable container like a self-watering planter.
- A well-draining growing medium such as coco coir
- A garlic variety of your choice, like the German Red.
- Plant the garlic cloves in the medium, ensuring they get ample light, and water them moderately.
- Once the tops begin to yellow, usually around 90 days, your homegrown garlic is ready for harvest.
Planting German Red Garlic in Self Watering Planters
The journey of growing garlic indoors can be a gratifying experience. It breaks the barriers of seasons, allowing you to have fresh garlic at your fingertips all year round.
Whether you’re a seasoned indoor gardener or a newbie, understanding the process is key.
With the right type of planter, growing medium, and garlic variety, you can easily nurture these pungent bulbs to maturity in the cozy corners of your home.
I have been waiting for my garlic sets to arrive. Seems like a long time but actually it was only about a week.
I like to use coco coir as my growing medium. It works much better than potting soil.
Also, coco coir has great wicking properties so it’s a great choice for self-watering planters.
I bought a set of 6 of these for my orchids but my orchids have been moved into a terrarium I built and they are loving it in there.
So I plan to plant half my garlic indoors and the other half will go into my Gro Buckets. They have tomato plants in them right now.
How Long Does German Red Garlic Take?
Spring planted garlic takes about 90 days to mature.
Outdoors some people like to plant in the fall and it can overwinter and will be ready in about 240 days.
Since we are growing our garlic indoors there is really no spring or fall.
We can plant garlic whenever we like and wait for the tops to start to yellow before harvesting.
Buy It Once Grow It Forever
Each garlic bulb will yield 6-10 cloves. So we can save some cloves for our next crop from each harvest.
So we will never need to buy garlic sets again unless we want to try another garlic variety.
There are 11 basic garlic varieties but there are many cultivars of each being sold.
There are 11 different horticultural groups of garlic. Three of them are classified under softneck: Silverskin, Artichoke, and Middle Eastern. Hardneck varieties of garlic are divided into eight groups: Porcelain, Rocambole, Purple Stripe, Glazed Purple Stripe, Marble Purple Stripe, Asiatic, Turban, and Creole. https://savvygardening.com/garlic-varieties/
About German Red Garlic
German red garlic is a hardneck variety. It produces flower scapes that are considered an edible vegetable.
It is considered a large porcelain type of garlic. Hardneck garlic is considered more winter hardy than soft neck varieties.
However, it does not keep as well as soft neck varieties. Most white garlic in supermarkets is softneck garlic.
Elephant Garlic Is On The Way
I have some elephant garlic on the way and I want to save some of the pots for it to grow them indoors.
Anything that won’t fit will also go outdoors. We have a pretty mild winter climate so overwintering them is no problem.
The grower sent pretty nice garlic sets. They look healthy and I can see green inside the tops so they should do fine.
They said to cut the tops back but I only removed about half of what was there.
They looked so healthy I didn’t want to cut them back to the bulb.
Planting German Red Garlic Video
So here is a video showing my German red garlic unboxing and potting them up.
More updates to come as they grow. More info on growing garlic indoors here: Growing Garlic Indoors In Pots (indoorvegetablegrower.com
Self Watering Planters For Indoor Vegetables
Self-watering planters work great for vegetables. The term is a bit misleading because they don’t actually water themselves.
They are also called SIPS or sub-irrigated planters which more accurately describes what they do. They water from the bottom up instead of from the top down.
They are filled with a growing medium like coco coir which has good wicking abilities. Capillary action draws water up to the plant’s roots.
Usually, they include a wick to transfer water from a reservoir to the soil. This is a simple passive hydroponic system.
If you want pots like I used in the video you can find them on Amazon here.
Planting Garlic in Self Watering Planters FAQs
As you delve into the world of indoor garlic cultivation, a handful of questions might sprout in your mind.
From choosing the right garlic variety to understanding the growth cycle and watering routine, each aspect holds significance.
Below are some common inquiries addressed to guide you through a seamless garlic growing journey indoors.
Q. What are the benefits of growing garlic indoors?
A. Growing garlic indoors offers year-round cultivation, pest control, and the convenience of having fresh garlic at hand.
It’s a great way to embrace self-sufficiency and explore gardening regardless of outdoor conditions.
Q. How long does it take for garlic to mature indoors?
A. Generally, garlic takes about 90 days to mature indoors. However, the exact timing can vary based on the garlic variety and growing conditions.
Q. Which varieties of garlic are best suited for indoor cultivation?
A. German Red, a hardneck variety, is a good choice for indoor cultivation. Other varieties may include softneck garlic types like Silverskin or Artichoke which are also suitable for indoor gardening.
Q. How do self-watering planters enhance the growth of garlic indoors?
A. Self-watering planters provide a consistent water supply, utilizing capillary action to draw water to the roots.
This is particularly beneficial for a moisture-loving crop like garlic, making watering hassle-free and ensuring the plants receive the right amount of water.
Conclusion
Starting to grow garlic indoors is like stepping into a new gardening adventure.
With a little patience, some tender loving care, and the right tools, growing garlic indoors in pots can become a fun daily routine.
It’s not just about the tasty garlic you’ll get; it’s about enjoying the process of growing them in your own little indoor garden.
Every clove you plant has the potential to reward you with a good harvest, bringing you a step closer to growing your own food, one garlic bulb at a time.
