Container Gardening for Garlic
Garlic is in the Allium family, which includes onions and shallots. The bulbs are the most powerful flavor on the plants, but the greens are also eaten. It is these heady bulbs which are the basis for planting. Each is planted 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.) deep and must also have room for the roots to grow. This should be a consideration when choosing your container. Garlic planted in fall is ready for harvest by June. Growing produce in pots near the kitchen is a space-saving trick, but also allows the cook in the family easy access to the freshest ingredients possible.
Containers for Growing Garlic
Growing garlic in containers provides that just-picked flavor for the strongest bulbs ever. You need one that is at least 6 inches (15 cm.) deep and has excellent drainage. The container also needs to be big enough to leave 6 inches (15 cm.) of space between cloves. Other things to consider are evaporation rate and heat conductivity. Terra cotta pots evaporate more quickly and will need to be watered more often than glazed pots. If you don’t care about appearance, you can even use a 5-gallon (19 L.) bucket with holes punched into the bottom.
Soil Mixture for Potted Garlic Plants
The proper soil medium is important for garlic planting in pots. It can’t retain too much moisture nor be too dry, and should have plenty of organic nutrients available for the bulbs. A good mix of peat, perlite, or vermiculite, and potting mix or compost with a little bit of builder’s sand will give you the drainage, moisture retention, and nutrients necessary for growing garlic in containers. Container gardening for garlic can also include some early harvest cool vegetables, such as lettuce, which will be harvested before winter’s chill in most cases. Lettuces planted over un-sprouted cloves will minimize weeds and keep the soil broken up with their roots.
How to Grow Garlic in a Container
Once you have your planting medium and container, fill the receptacle halfway full of the soil mix. Add a slow-release granular balanced plant food, such as a 10-10-10, and mix into the soil. Insert the bulbs with the pointed side up and then backfill with more soil, pressing around each clove. If moisture is minimal, water the soil until it is evenly damp. Plant a short-term crop on top or simply cover the container with organic mulch. In spring the shoots will come up and eventually turn into scapes. Harvest these for stir fry or just to eat raw. By late June, your garlic is ready to dig up and cure. Container gardening for garlic is that easy and very rewarding. Try it as an annual part of your fall planting for delicious ready-to-grab flavor and zing in all your food.
