Fresh garlic from our own cultivation tops every bulb from the supermarket. It works just as easily in the bed as it does on the balcony. We explain all the important steps to the aromatic, spicy harvest.
How can I grow garlic myself?
To grow garlic you need a sunny, warm location with loose, well-drained soil. Plant garlic cloves in the fall or February 5-7 cm deep into the soil, 15-20 cm apart. Low maintenance and minimal watering are enough for a successful harvest.
The right location makes an important contribution to success
If the location meets the most important requirements, half of the journey is already done:
- sunlit location, warm and protected
- humous substrate, loose and permeable
- with a medium level of nutrients
If you prefer to grow garlic yourself in a bucket or balcony box, choose commercial vegetable soil (€13.00 on Amazon). If you have perlite or some sand on hand, mix it into the potting soil to improve permeability.
Planting time is in autumn - or not
Autumn is considered the ideal planting time for a wide range of ornamental and useful plants. This also applies to garlic. At this time of year the ground is still warm, so the planting material can establish itself well before winter.
Proper cultivation of garlic also offers a second chance. If you plant the seedlings in the ground in February, there will still be a harvest in the same year. In this case, the onions have a smaller volume.
Planting garlic cloves or sowing seeds? The choice is yours
If you are aiming for a quick harvest, fresh garlic cloves can be used as planting material. We recommend purchasing them from specialist retailers, as the quality has a decisive influence on the harvest yield. Use a knife to quickly cut a crisp, fresh garlic bulb into several cloves.
Seeds are rarely available in stores due to their limited shelf life. If you have a garlic gardener in your network, this gives you access to fresh bulbs. After flowering, the firm, purple seeds are simply cut out.
Experience has shown that sowing garlic seeds does not produce a harvest until the following year at the earliest. If you don't have much patience for growing garlic, you can opt for planting garlic cloves.
Planting garlic is easy
Once the planting material is ready and the location has been chosen, planting garlic can be done quickly:
- loose up the bed soil and weed carefully
- Insert garlic cloves 5-7 cm deep with the tip pointing towards the sky
- Do not insert the breeding bulbs deeper than 2-3 cm into the substrate
- A planting distance of 15-20 cm is optimal
- moisten with fine water spray
If you plant in autumn, subsequent winter protection is recommended. Spread a garden fleece over the bed or cover it with straw, leaves or brushwood. The bucket and balcony box receive a cover made of bubble wrap.
Minimal care required for maximum garlic enjoyment
Garlic requires little attention until harvest. As long as the soil doesn't dry out and weeds don't take root, growth will proceed in an orderly manner. A scoop of compost every now and then ensures the nutrient supply. However, fertilizing is not absolutely necessary.
Tips & Tricks
Home-grown garlic can sometimes have a tough time when it comes to its spiciness. So that eating it doesn't bring tears to your eyes, put a garlic bulb in milk for 1 to 2 days. This simple procedure makes the spice plant much milder.