Garlic is a staple in our Mediterranean cuisine, enhancing and enriching the flavors of our dishes. Imagine being able to multiply it at your leisure, right on your balcony, terrace, or in a pot. Well, with a step back and a little effort, you can! Spring and autumn are the optimal seasons to plant garlic bulbs, and now is the perfect time to sow the seeds for a rewarding harvest.
With just 4 simple cloves, a spacious pot, and a handful of coffee grounds, you can achieve fantastic results, cultivating garlic directly at home effortlessly.
Curious to find out how? Let’s get started!
Growing Garlic on the Balcony: Combine Coffee Grounds with a Garlic Clove, and You’ll Be Amazed
How to Grow Garlic from a Single Clove:
- First, you’ll need a bulb containing several cloves. Each clove has the potential to grow into a new individual plant, but choosing the right bulb is crucial.
- Open the bulb, removing the protective skin. Select large, mold-free, non-empty, and non-dry cloves—basically, opt for the ones you’d use in your recipes.
- Soak the selected cloves in a bowl or glass full of water for 24 hours to soften them before planting.
Planting Garlic:
- The next day, grab a spacious pot, approximately 25 centimeters in diameter, an ideal size for planting 4 cloves.
- Get some peat and an equivalent amount of coffee grounds. Yes, you read that right—coffee grounds are rich in nutrients beneficial for the germination of these plants, releasing potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium, ultimately fertilizing the soil.
- Fill the pot, then use a teaspoon to make 4 holes, each 10 centimeters deep and well-spaced to ensure proper development.
- Place a garlic clove in each hole, flat side down, with the sprout (the tip) facing upwards.
- Cover with soil, water generously, ensuring the soil is thoroughly soaked. Place the pot in a well-exposed outdoor area, and water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist until the new sprouts emerge.
Only then can you reduce the frequency of watering.
Achieving a Bountiful Harvest:
In less than 20 days, the first sprout, about half a centimeter tall, will appear and will triple its size in just two days. Not all cloves will develop simultaneously, but don’t worry; they will all reach the same level. In just two months, the plants will reach 40 centimeters, and their foliage will start to emit a delightful aroma.
When the outer part (stem and leaves) is completely dry, it’s time to harvest. Gently loosen the soil with a small shovel and carefully pull out the entire plant. Clean the bulb from the peat covering it, rinse it, and let it dry in the sun for a week. After this time, you can use it for your wonderful recipes.
Easy, isn’t it? Growing garlic will become a fun, economical, and highly satisfying activity for you!
