The Best Guide On How To Grow Garlic Hydroponically

Last Updated on September 8, 2024 by Sara Rose

Do you want to know how to grow garlic hydroponically?  If the answer is yes, then this article is the best place for you to be!  We have created a detailed guide that will get you growing garlic immediately.

Garlic is a popular addition to any meal.  It is eaten all around the world.  If you eat it every day, then why not try to grow it?  

One of the great things about garlic is that you not only eat the bulb, but you can eat the green stalks as well.  This means that the whole plant is completely edible.  

Another thing is that it is easy to grow!! Garlic is considered one of the most nutritious vegetables and has been used in history for many medical cures.

You can grow garlic from other garlic bulbs.  This means if you have some garlic at home, you can get started right away.  Growing garlic hydroponically means that you will do it without soil.  

The garlic will get nutrients directly from the water.  Follow this guide to learn the best way how to grow garlic hydroponically.  By the end of this article, you should be feeling confident to get started.  

Keep reading now to learn how to be a garlic-growing expert!

How To Grow Garlic Hydroponically?

Before we get into details of how to grow garlic hydroponically, let’s overview the garlic plant.    The garlic plant’s scientific name is Allium Sativum and belongs to the Allium family.  

Garlic is considered an ancient plant that has been around for thousands of years.  It is used for eating and traditional medicine.  

One thing to know about garlic is that it has a relatively long growing season.  This means that it takes a while until you can actually harvest cloves.  Do not let this deter you!

Even though it takes a long time, it is still very easy to grow.  Also, the strong smell of garlic acts as a pest deterrent.  This means that pest problems are pretty rare.  

According to the University of Illinois, “There are two main types of garlic: soft neck and hard neck. Hardneck garlic produces a hard flower stalk called a scape. Softneck garlic rarely produces a flower stalk.”  

Hardneck garlic is easier to peel but has a shorter shelf life.  Whereas soft neck garlic can be stored for long amounts of time.  In the U.S.A, you typically find soft neck garlic in the store.

As mentioned earlier, you can start growing garlic from other garlic cloves.  If you see a garlic variety that you like, you can save some to plant in your garden.  

Although, if the garlic you buy is not organic, it is likely that it will not sprout again.  So be sure to buy your garlic from trusted suppliers.  Select the largest cloves to plant.  

The smaller ones may not sprout. To increase your chances of success, try to start many garlic cloves at once.  When you see roots forming at the bottom of your cloves, you can transplant them into your hydroponics system.

Growing Garlic Indoors Hydroponically

Now that we have an overview of the garlic plant, let’s dive into details about how to grow garlic hydroponically.  Growing garlic hydroponically is a great way to maximize yields while using little space.  

It is a great option for those who do not have an outdoor garden area easily accessible.  However, garlic requires full sun.  This means that it needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.  

So, if you want to grow garlic indoors hydroponically, you have to supplement with artificial lighting.  Artificial lights are specially made to mimic the natural ultraviolet rays of the sun.  The highest quality lights are pretty expensive.

Keep this in mind when deciding what to grow in your hydroponics system.  When you have your garlic cloves and are ready to start, you will need to choose a growing medium.

In hydroponics, a growing medium is necessary to support the plants from falling into the water.  This medium also acts as a wick to move water to the plants.

Some good options for garlic are rock wool, vermiculite (worm compost), or coconut fiber.  Fill your growing container with your medium of choice and get ready to plant the garlic.

Bury the garlic clove so that it is completely covered by your growing medium.  Make sure that the wide side of the garlic is pointed down.  That is where the roots will form.  

Over time, a green scape will start to grow out the top of the garlic.  This is how you know it is working.   Be sure to set your water cycles to ensure the growing medium never dries out.

Growing Garlic Indoors Hydroponically

How Long Does It Take To Grow Garlic Indoors?

A typical growing period for hydroponic garlic is around 60 days.

During this time, be sure to pay attention to the temperature.  Garlic actually prefers cooler temperatures to thrive.  A good range to stay in is between 35-50 degrees Fahrenheit.   

If you live in a cooler climate, garlic might be a great choice for you.  While you want to keep your soil moist, you do not want to oversaturate the garlic.  If the garlic gets too wet, the clove will start to rot.  

This means you will not get any garlic harvest.

Try to maintain a water PH of between 6 and 6.5.  For the best results, test your PH levels on a weekly basis.  

Also, with hydroponics, you will have to pay attention to the nutrients that you add to your water.   Just like all plants, garlic requires N-P-K.    

Nitrogen is always supplied at the beginning.  Potassium and phosphorus are required at the middle and end of the growth cycle.  

This means you will not get any garlic harvest.

As long as you follow those basic requirements, you should have garlic growing in no time.   Garlic doesn’t take up a lot of space, so you can grow large amounts in small areas.

Hopefully, after reading this article you know how to grow garlic hydroponically!  You can see, it’s pretty easy!  

Feel free to comment and ask questions below!

Read more about: How To Grow Watercress At Home?

FAQs

How long does it take to grow garlic indoors?

A typical growing period for hydroponic garlic is around 60 days.

During this time, be sure to pay attention to the temperature. Garlic actually prefers cooler temperatures to thrive. A good range to stay in is between 35-50 degrees fahrenheit.

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