Growing Garlic in Water Bottles

“Indulge in the delightful scent of freshly minced garlic in your stir fry and imagine having a continuous supply at your fingertips. This kitchen essential, loved for its aromatic flavor and health benefits, can be grown effortlessly in repurposed plastic water bottles before being transplanted into the soil.

Begin your garlic-growing journey by collecting empty plastic water bottles. Cut them at the point where the tapered section meets the body, creating upside-down containers for rooting your garlic. Fill the bottles with enough water to submerge the lower end of the garlic bulbs.

Peel the garlic bulbs, retaining only the innermost peel or clove skin, and keep the short stalk intact. Using a sanitized cutter, slice off a small part of the upper section of each garlic clove, ensuring it stays attached. Place the garlic bulbs and stalk pointing up in the bottles for a few days. Change the water regularly to prevent stagnation.

This process serves as a precursor to planting garlic in soil, allowing the cloves to develop robust roots quickly. After noticing sturdy roots emerging from the cloves, remove them from the water and gently separate the cloves with their roots, ready for soil planting.

Transplant the rooted garlic cloves into well-draining, loose, loamy soil enriched with organic matter. Plant each clove about three inches deep and space them six inches apart in a sunny garden spot. Consistently water the plants, ensuring the soil is moist but not waterlogged. Mulch around the plants, fertilize sparingly, and keep an eye out for pests like downy mildew and nematodes.

To encourage larger garlic bulbs, cut growing garlic scapes, redirecting nutrients to the bulbs. Soon, you’ll relish the satisfaction of repurposing plastic while cultivating your perpetual garlic supply. Happy gardening!”

_{Repurposed article originally published in House Digest}