How To Grow Garlic From Seed: A Comprehensive Guide
Growing garlic from seed, while more time-consuming than planting cloves, offers advantages like disease resistance and variety selection. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the process, explaining how to nurture garlic from true seed, a feat that ultimately yields bulbs, but takes longer than starting from cloves, and is ultimately more rewarding and interesting for gardeners.
Why Grow Garlic From Seed?
While most gardeners propagate garlic vegetatively (using cloves), growing from seed, also known as true garlic seed (TGS), offers some unique benefits. Understanding these advantages can help you decide if this longer-term method is right for you.
- Disease Resistance: Plants grown from seed can be more resistant to certain diseases and pests that affect cloves. Starting fresh allows for selecting and cultivating the most robust plants.
- Variety Selection and Development: Growing from seed opens opportunities for creating your own unique garlic varieties. Hybridization and selection can lead to improved traits like flavor, storage life, and bulb size.
- Genetic Diversity: Cloves are clones, so growing from seed introduces genetic diversity to your garlic crop, increasing resilience to environmental challenges.
- Reduced Reliance on Cloves: Starting from seed can eventually reduce your dependence on purchasing cloves each year, especially for rare or hard-to-find varieties.
The Garlic Seed-Growing Process: Step-by-Step
Growing garlic from seed requires patience, as it takes several years to produce mature bulbs. Here’s a breakdown of the process:
Sourcing Garlic Seed (TGS):
- Purchase TGS from a reputable seed supplier specializing in garlic.
- Alternatively, collect your own seeds from garlic scapes (the flower stalks) if you grow a variety that produces them. Allow the scapes to fully mature and dry on the plant before harvesting the seeds.
Seed Preparation:
- Stratification (Cold Treatment): Many garlic seeds benefit from stratification to improve germination rates. This involves chilling the seeds in a refrigerator for several weeks (4-8 weeks is generally recommended). Place the seeds in a damp paper towel inside a plastic bag, and label the bag with the date.
- Soaking: Before planting, soak the seeds in water for 12-24 hours to rehydrate them and further encourage germination.
Sowing the Seeds:
- Starting Indoors (Recommended): Sow the seeds in seed trays or small pots filled with a well-draining seed-starting mix. Plant the seeds about 1/4 inch deep.
- Direct Sowing (Less Common): In warmer climates, you can direct sow the seeds in the garden after the last frost. Prepare the soil well and plant the seeds about 1/4 inch deep.
Germination and Early Growth:
- Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
- Provide adequate light. Seedlings started indoors need 14-16 hours of light per day.
- Germination can take several weeks. Be patient.
Transplanting Seedlings:
- Once the seedlings are a few inches tall and have developed a strong root system, transplant them into larger pots or directly into the garden.
- Space the seedlings about 4-6 inches apart.
- Choose a location with full sun and well-drained soil.
First Year: Growing Round Bulblets:
- In the first year, the garlic plants will typically produce small, single round bulblets, known as rounds. These are essentially small, immature garlic bulbs.
Second Year: Replanting Rounds:
- Harvest the rounds when the foliage starts to turn yellow and die back.
- Cure the rounds by drying them in a well-ventilated place for a few weeks.
- Replant the cured rounds in the fall, just like you would with garlic cloves.
Subsequent Years: Developing Mature Bulbs:
- In the second and subsequent years, the plants will develop into mature, multi-cloved garlic bulbs.
- Continue to harvest, cure, and replant the largest bulbs each year to improve the size and quality of your garlic crop.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Growing garlic from seed can be challenging, so avoid these common pitfalls:
- Poor Seed Quality: Use only high-quality seeds from reputable sources.
- Insufficient Stratification: Ensure proper cold stratification to improve germination rates.
- Overwatering: Overwatering can lead to root rot. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
- Lack of Nutrients: Garlic needs plenty of nutrients to grow. Amend the soil with compost or fertilizer.
- Weed Competition: Keep the garlic patch free of weeds, which can compete for nutrients and water.
- Impatience: Remember that it takes several years to grow mature bulbs from seed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between true garlic seed (TGS) and garlic cloves?
TGS is the actual seed produced by the garlic plant, typically found in the flower head (scape) of certain varieties. Garlic cloves, on the other hand, are segments of the garlic bulb and are used for vegetative propagation, essentially creating clones of the parent plant. TGS introduces genetic diversity, while cloves create identical copies.
How long does it take to grow a full-sized garlic bulb from seed?
It generally takes two to three years to grow a full-sized garlic bulb from seed. The first year usually produces small, round bulblets, which are then replanted to develop into larger, multi-cloved bulbs in subsequent years.
Which garlic varieties are best suited for growing from seed?
Varieties that readily produce scapes with viable seeds are best suited for growing from seed. Some examples include ‘Creole’ and some varieties of Rocambole garlic. However, seed viability can vary greatly, so research specific varieties before attempting to grow them from seed.
Is it possible to collect garlic seeds from any garlic variety?
No. Not all garlic varieties produce true seeds. Many are sterile or produce only a small number of non-viable seeds. Garlic varieties that readily produce scapes are more likely to produce viable seeds, but it’s still not guaranteed.
How do I know if my garlic seeds are viable?
A simple test to check viability involves placing a small number of seeds on a damp paper towel inside a plastic bag. Seal the bag and place it in a warm location. Check for germination (sprouting) after a week or two. If a significant percentage of the seeds germinate, they are likely viable.
What kind of soil is best for growing garlic from seed?
Garlic prefers well-drained, fertile soil that is rich in organic matter. Amend the soil with compost or well-rotted manure before planting. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH (6.0 to 7.0) is ideal.
How much sunlight do garlic seedlings need?
Garlic seedlings need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day. If starting seedlings indoors, use grow lights to provide adequate light.
How often should I water garlic seedlings?
Water garlic seedlings regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings.
Do garlic seedlings need fertilizer?
Yes, garlic seedlings benefit from regular fertilization. Use a balanced fertilizer or a fertilizer specifically formulated for bulbs. Apply the fertilizer according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
When should I transplant garlic seedlings from pots to the garden?
Transplant garlic seedlings when they are a few inches tall and have developed a strong root system. This is usually 4-6 weeks after germination. Harden off the seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions before transplanting.
How do I protect garlic seedlings from pests and diseases?
Monitor garlic seedlings regularly for signs of pests and diseases. Use organic pest control methods, such as insecticidal soap or neem oil, to control pests. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.
Can I grow garlic from seed in containers?
Yes, garlic can be grown from seed in containers, especially during the early stages. Choose a large container with good drainage. Use a well-draining potting mix and provide adequate sunlight and water. Be prepared to transplant the rounds or bulblets into larger containers or into the ground in subsequent years for optimal growth.