Choose the right variety and create a suitable environment for garlic to grow
Garlic is a familiar spice in every kitchen, but not everyone knows that they can be grown right in the house. Just a small pot, a little soil and a few healthy cloves of garlic, growers can create a clean garlic source for daily meals.
According to Sarah Wilson - editor of the gardening section of Homes & Gardens magazine (UK), garlic is especially suitable for small spaces such as apartments or townhouses without gardens. Not only harvesting bulbs, growers can also cut young garlic leaves to make spices for salads, noodles or stir-fried dishes.
Gardening experts recommend choosing "seed garlic" from nurseries instead of using supermarket garlic. Commercial garlic is sometimes treated to prevent germination or carry germs that make the plants develop poorly.
Currently, there are two common varieties: soft-stemmed garlic and hard-stemmed garlic. Soft-stemmed garlic is easier to grow indoors, suitable for warm climates and can be stored for a long time. Meanwhile, hard-stemmed garlic has a richer flavor but needs a cold environment to develop well.
Pam Farley - a gardening expert, founder of Brown Thumb Mama in California, USA and author of "The First-Time Gardener" - said that garlic needs to undergo a "springization" stage, i.e., be exposed to cold temperatures to stimulate growth. Growers can put garlic bulbs in paper bags and place them in the refrigerator for about 6 to 10 weeks before sowing.
Then, separate each clove of garlic from the bulb, keeping the thin outer shell to protect the cloves. Soft or discolored cloves should be removed.
Water properly and place the plant in a sunny place
Garlic is suitable for loose, nutrient-rich, and well-drained soil. Pots need drainage holes at the bottom to avoid root waterlogging. Garlic cloves are stuck in the soil about 2.5 cm deep, with the pointed end facing upwards and about 10 cm apart.
After planting, the plant needs to be placed in a sunny place for at least 6 hours a day, ideally a south or west-facing window.
According to Ms. Pam Farley, slightly dry soil is better than overly moist. Planters should only water thoroughly when the plant starts to develop young leaves and reduce watering when the leaves turn yellow.
About a month later, the plant begins to grow green leaves. This is the part that can be harvested early for cooking. If well cared for, indoor garlic usually yields harvests about three months faster than indoors.
Resh Gala - an organic gardening expert in New Jersey, USA, and also the founder of the Hundred Tomatoes gardening channel and author of the book "Veggie Gardening Made Easy" - recommends that after harvest, garlic bulbs should be dried for two to three weeks in a dry and ventilated place before storage. Garlic should be stored in paper boxes or airy baskets to avoid mold and last longer.
