Most gardeners are used to planting seeds to start their vegetables growing. However, not all veggies require seeds. Some vegetables, such as garlic, actually grow directly from a portion of the vegetable itself.
In the case of garlic, you’ll need seed garlic to grow your own bulbs. Fortunately, if you’re looking to propagate your own seed garlic, you can find garlic seed for sale in many places online.
What’s the difference between seed and culinary garlic?
The main difference between seed garlic and culinary garlic is the bulb size. Farmers sort out the smaller bulbs during harvest to sell for cooking while keeping the larger bulbs for future plantings.
You might see a change in wrapper color, too. Seed garlic often has a reddish wrapper, while culinary garlic will be white or pale beige. However, in terms of taste, you won’t notice any difference. So, it’s perfectly fine to cook and grow your seed garlic.
What are seed garlic bulb sizes?
Standard culinary garlic bulbs are usually relatively small, which doesn’t make them ideal for planting. On the other hand, seed garlic bulbs are pretty large, and typical seed garlic bulbs are at least two to three inches across. Conversely, culinary garlic bulbs usually range from one and a half to two inches in diameter.
How do you choose seed garlic?
Choosing the right seed garlic is crucial to success when growing your own bulbs. In most cases, the larger the bulb, the larger the plant, increasing your likelihood of getting the best crop. So, if you want to ensure you get the most bang for your buck, so to speak, choose the largest cloves you can find.
How do you grow seed garlic?
One of the best things about seed garlic is that it is effortless to grow. You don’t need any special skills. Instead, you simply need plenty of time and patience. What’s best is that you can grow and harvest your garlic in your kitchen or backyard garden.
The easiest way to grow garlic is to take your seed clove and plant it stem-side down in well-drained soil. Keep the soil moist, and your new bulb will sprout within a few weeks.
Can you grow seed garlic anywhere?
When you start exploring seed garlic, you might be surprised to find many different cultivars out there. However, much like any plant, not all types of garlic are designed for all climates. So, take some time to study which seed garlic will do best in your zone or region.
If you’re growing garlic inside, you might have a bit more flexibility. However, your options will be more restricted when building an outdoor garden.
Final thoughts
Growing your own garlic from seed cloves can be a fun, rewarding experience. There’s nothing quite like fresh cloves for your recipes. Just be sure to choose the best cloves from your current crop. Or, if you’re just starting out, look online to find the best cloves for your region.