First time trying this with garlic!!!
And whoa!!!!!!!!
This picture was taken just a few minutes ago - so - maybe about 36 hours since I put DRY GARLIC into the cup with a little water.
And really? I should have taken the picture at 18 hours - because by then - it was ALREADY sending out so many roots!!!!
I've seen a lot of videos with people just putting a garlic bulb into moist soil - but this jumpstarts the process SO fast!!! Look at all these roots shooting out!!!
and look at the green shoots shooting up!!!! They only had little tiny bits of green a few days ago - but this garlic is saying YES YES YES I'm ready to make another bulb pleeeeeeeeease! hahaha
It's amazing that so often we just THROW these things away! I remember growing up and seeing a garlic clove that had started sprouting, and being told that it was past its time - so to toss it.
But it's practically screaming to you that it is a viable plant - ready to make MORE food for you - FOR ABSOLUTELY FREE. hahahaa
ok - maybe I'm the only one that is totally amazed by this?? but I think this is fabulous!!! AND -for those people who have not had much success growing from seed?? THIS is like a SUREFIRE way to get that INSTANT gratification of growing something. Believe me - BELIEVE ME. If I can grow something, YOU CAN. Cuz there is no one more skilled at assassinating plants than yours truly, the Grim Reaper of the Garden.
Now check this out...
My green onions (oh - and I had a few more that were getting all wilty in the fridge - so I put them into the cup too!) Might as well give some new life to them also hahaha
Remember - for this one, they already HAVE a significant root system when you get them at the store. So I made my little hydroponic 2-cup system hahahaha and put them in the top cup with a barrier in between them and the water.
Why did I do this?
Well you CAN stick them directly into a cup with a little water - but you really really want to keep the water AWAY from the bulbs and ONLY onto the roots.
If you have the water up too high - it will encourage mold and then all your hard work is toast! The nice thing about green onions is that they send their roots out so strong and fast - and they actually LIFT AND HOLD the plant up - out of the water.
These are NOT weak roots. They WILL hold that plant up well. So - yes, do keep the plants relatively dry, while allowing the roots to get as much water as you'd like.
Most people will transfer their re-grown plants into soil, but you know what I've found? I've trained the plants to suck up all the water they need - but then I put them into soil where its a completely different environment, and a lot harder to control. so - they stagnate.
This time - I'm gonna try to see how long I can keep them surviving as a continuous source of green onions in this hydroponic system! hehehehe
Plus - its kinda fun to watch them grow on the windowsill! And then they're right there in the kitchen for when you need them too!
All images mine, unless stated below
Banner made by me - from emojis hehe