By Krati Purwar
June 27, 2025
Either you love garlic or you don’t. There is nothing in between. The pungent scent and earthy notes that the root vegetable adds to any recipe are unmatchable. But how much can you buy from the market? It’s time to grow them on your balcony.
Either get good-quality seeds from a nursery or grow them from a bulb. Hardneck varieties give you large bulbs, and softneck yields small ones.
Garlic needs full sun to grow, and it thrives in well-drained soil. The pot should have garden soil, compost, and manure.
Garlic should either be planted in fall or spring, but you can also plant it during monsoon.
Plant cloves of garlic in a pot, at least 2-4 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart. Add mulch to protect the harvest from cold during monsoon.
The soil must always be moist, but reduce watering if leaves turn yellow. Add fertilisers from time to time.
The correct time to harvest garlic is when one-third of the leaves at the bottom turn yellow and dry out. Loosen the soil around the bulb and leave it gently.
Brush off excess soil from the bulbs, hang them in bundles, and let them dry out. Trim the roots, cut the stem, and store the garlic.