A basic garlic trick: you only need water and a plastic bottle

Indeed, propagating garlic using water and a plastic bottle is a simple and fun gardening trick that allows you to grow garlic greens, also known as garlic sprouts or garlic scapes. Here’s a basic step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Materials Needed:

Fresh garlic bulbs (with roots intact)
Plastic bottle (a clear one is preferable for better visibility)
Water
A pair of scissors
Steps:

Prepare the garlic bulbs: Choose fresh garlic bulbs with the roots still attached. Gently separate individual cloves from the bulb, ensuring that each clove has a piece of the root attached.

Cut the plastic bottle: Take a clean plastic bottle and cut the top part off, leaving it wide enough to accommodate the garlic cloves and water. You’ll use the bottom part of the bottle as a makeshift planter.

Add water to the bottle: Fill the bottom part of the plastic bottle with enough water to cover the bottom inch or so.

Place the garlic cloves: Insert the garlic cloves into the bottle, making sure the roots are submerged in water and the pointed end (where the sprout will emerge) faces upward.

Set up the planter: Place the plastic bottle planter on a windowsill or any location that receives bright, indirect sunlight. The garlic cloves will grow best in a warm environment.

Change the water regularly: Change the water every few days to keep it fresh and free from any potential mold or bacteria.

Watch them grow: Within a few days, you should start to see green shoots emerge from the top of the garlic cloves. These are the garlic greens, and they are edible and have a milder flavor than mature garlic.

Harvesting the greens: Once the garlic greens have grown to a desirable length (usually several inches), you can cut them off just above the bulb, leaving the roots intact in the water. They will continue to produce more greens, allowing for multiple harvests.

It’s essential to note that this method of growing garlic greens is different from growing full garlic bulbs, which typically requires planting cloves in soil. However, growing garlic greens in water can be a fun and rewarding activity, especially for those with limited gardening space or for educational purposes with children. Additionally, it’s a great way to enjoy the mild garlic flavor in salads, stir-fries, and other dishes while waiting for your mature garlic bulbs to grow in the garden.