Don't Let Your Small Garden Stop You From Growing Garlic: Plant It In Containers

Adding garlic (Allium sativum) to the list of plants you know how to grow and care for is good for more than just warding off vampire attacks; it's an easy, edible plant to start growing for those interested in weaning off their reliance on factory farms. In fact, if you take the time to learn how to grow garlic in your own containers at home, this can save you a lot of money in the long run, given that you'll have new generations to propagate after each harvest. Garlic can be stored for use well after its harvest season in the early summer, often for at least three months, and it is also an excellent plant for growing indoors and in small spaces. Should you find yourself with little room in the garden or on the patio, all you really need to start your garlic, beyond the typical gardening supplies, is an 8-inch container with good drainage holes.

Edible container gardens are a slightly different beast than growing flowers indoors, in part because they'll require a lot of sunlight and water to develop the nutrients you want to eat. Garlic, in particular, likes full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day – and consistently moist soil (although a younger, immature green garlic can tolerate partial shade). There are multiple varieties of garlic to consider growing at home, from stronger softneck garlics to more mild-tasting hardnecks, but broadly speaking, you'll want to use a container with at least 2 quarts of space so you can plant your garlic cloves about 4 inches apart, 2 or 3 inches deep — just make sure they're not too close to the edge, or else your bulbs might grow and push up against each side.

To start your at-home garlic container garden, one important thing to note is that you can't rely on propagating cloves from the grocery store. Garlic being sold as produce may be treated to prevent further sprouting, so you're better off seeking a local nursery or friends who already grow their own. Once you have the proper cloves, fill your container with a loamy, sandy type of soil that's high in organic matter for good drainage and nutrients in your indoor garden, and then plant the garlic with its pointed, sprouting end facing up. Soil with a neutral pH around 7 is best, and you can incorporate nitrogen into the soil around May to increase the odds of a strong harvest. The best way to do so is with side-dressing, where you lay the fertilizer around the garlic in the container, rather than directly on top of it.

That said, any garlic planted in a container will be disconnected from the natural rhythms of nature, so you should put all your indoor bulbs through the process of vernalization before planting. Vernalization is the winter dormancy period that plants like garlic go through, in which they are genetically coded to need a certain number of cold days to grow. Most bulbs need to stay below 40 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 to 8 weeks, which you can accomplish using your refrigerator, so long as you wrap your pots in plastic with holes punched out for air.

If you want to grow garlic in containers, another important factor is the environmental conditions in your home. As mentioned, garlic prefers a moist soil — and, in fact, it is recommended that you use an organic mulch to help retain moisture without as much active watering. Humidity-loving houseplants will thrive in a few weird places around the house, including in your bathroom, laundry room, and kitchen, but it can be harder to maintain steady moisture levels indoors. Central heating and air can make spaces drier, which can be a problem for plants like garlic unless you add extra elements, like a humidifier. 

While your garlic pot will need regular, thorough waterings up to about 12 inches of soil, there shouldn't be excessive moisture or humidity when you're ready to harvest. Diseases like botrytis neck and bulb rot can affect many members of the Allium genus if the plant is inundated with water around the time it's being moved to storage. You'll have to replace the soil in your container if any garlic succumbs to disease. 

Garlic can be harvested when its leaves turn yellow, but keep an eye out for signs that your garlic plant is beginning to flower, as once the bulb has opened, it will not be as easy to store. You can reuse the soil after harvesting healthy garlic; however, it will become more compacted as organic matter and nutrients are absorbed, making it harder and less water-absorbent. For plants like garlic that require good drainage, you may need to break up older soil and roots while incorporating more fertilizers to keep your operation going.