Recently, I got some hardneck garlic to experiment with in my garden. Unfortunately, it started sprouting before planting… so what are my options now? can I plant garlic that has sprouted?
Yes! Growing garlic indoors will kickstart its growing season from scratch.
Planting sprouted garlic is a straightforward process: each clove will sprout into its own bulb and you can enjoy fresh garlic in your cooking. Read on for tips on how you can utilize garlic sprout in your garden so it doesn’t go to waste!
Why Plant Sprouted Garlic?
Have you found store-bought sprouted garlic in your kitchen or received it from friends like I did? The answer to that question is YES! Not only is sprouted garlic still edible but planting sprouted garlic cloves can give you the chance to produce your own garlic harvest! Here are a few reasons why planting sprouted garlic could benefit:
It’s More Nutritional
Can you plant sprouted garlic? Garlic has long been used as medicine, according to Healthline. Garlic contains ample amounts of Vitamin C, B6 and manganese, not to mention allicilin which acts as a potency antioxidant that works against inflammation in your body. It truly acts as nature’s antibiotic!
By growing your own garlic, you can ensure it’s free from pesticides and chemicals that could potentially be detrimental. And since it only takes seconds from seedling to your table, you’re guaranteed to consume its nutritional peak value!
Growing garlic yourself can save money. One clove can produce eight cloves in as few months; thus one bulb of garlic can produce many cloves that can either be used in recipes or planted to grow even more garlic!
It Saves You Money
Growing garlic at home can save money on groceries by storing it well over the winter, plus sprouted cloves will otherwise go to waste if nothing is done with them.
When is the best time and can you plant sprouted garlic? Cloves usually sprout around the time they need to be planted anyway; however, you can speed up this process by placing the garlic cloves in the freezer or back of your refrigerator so they experience similar conditions during frost.
When to plant sprouted garlic?
When planting sprouted garlic, as with regular garlic, timing is critical. Fall is an ideal time for sprouted garlic planting; winter and snow-covered ground require waiting until spring before doing so.
Garlic should generally be planted during the fall months, about four to six weeks before the ground freezes over.
In areas with harsh winters, it’s vital that garlic be planted early enough in the fall so it has time to establish roots before the ground freezes. Typically between mid and late October depending on climate and zone. Furthermore, proper protection must also be provided during this time.
Mulch heavily with straw or leaves when planting fall-planted garlic for winter protection; this will insulate the soil and protect the bulbs from extreme cold temperatures.
Garlic plants can become vulnerable when water pools around their roots. To ensure optimal performance from these crops, make sure your soil drains well or add organic matter or builders sand to help it drain better.
Garlic can be planted in warmer regions from late winter or early spring if soil conditions allow, provided the ground remains workable and unfrozen – usually late February in temperate regions without snow cover.
Some gardeners claim that planting garlic in spring results in smaller bulbs; however, that’s not necessarily true of all varieties. My experience has been wonderful sowing garlic late February/early March and harvesting it as early as July!
My experience suggests that garlic usually begins sprouting during spring, given its cloves are still relatively new from fall harvesting. Although ideal, spring remains the most practical time for planting sprouted garlic plants in your garden.
How to Plant Sprouted Garlic
Don’t throw your sprouted cloves away just yet , use them to grow your own garlic! Simply follow these steps and plant sprouted garlic:
Preparing the Sprouted Cloves
To prepare sprouted garlic for planting, begin by peeling away its papery outer covering. Take care not to completely peel away all the cloves.
Each clove will become its own individual garlic bulb within several months, so each must be planted individually. Please take great care in handling sprouted garlic cloves as their delicate sprouts may break easily, while peeling comes off much more readily than with traditional garlic bulbs.
Preparing the Soil
Choose an area in your garden that receives plenty of sun and has well-draining soil, since garlic needs loose, loamy soil that contains lots of organic matter. Before planting, mix in compost or well-rotted manure to increase fertility in the soil.
Planting the Garlic
I recommend planting garlic cloves 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart, using sharp dibbers to mark my planting holes rather than creating rows in my loose and fluffy soil. But feel free to make rows as necessary!
Position the sprouted end of each clove facing up, with its flat end down. Cover them with soil so that any green sprouts sit outside its surface; water well after covering with soil.
Watering and Maintenance
Maintaining Your Garlic Plot Water the garlic regularly to keep its soil damp but not waterlogged. Once its roots begin to take hold, mulch around its plants to retain moisture and reduce weed growth.
Cut back scapes (curled flower stalks) in early spring to encourage larger bulbs. Harvest the garlic when its leaves begin to yellow and drop off; usually between mid July and August.
Are Sprouted Garlic Cloves Safe To Eat?
If you like making use of every part of your garden, sprouted garlic cloves are delicious and safe for consumption in your kitchen.
Sprouted garlic cloves tend to have a milder taste due to the sprouting process, as their pungent qualities have been somewhat reduced by losing some of their volatile elements.
Sprouted garlic cloves boast not only unique flavors, but their texture may differ significantly from regular varieties. Because their green shoots may become fibrous over time, sprouted varieties should be removed prior to being used in culinary projects.
Although sprouted garlic cloves differ slightly in taste and appearance from their non-sprouted counterparts, they remain safe to consume and can be used in any recipe that calls for garlic. Some individuals even prefer sprouted varieties as they contain higher levels of antioxidants and other essential compounds compared to regular garlic.
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