Garlic is an essential ingredient in the kitchen, valued for both its flavor and health benefits. Surprisingly, you don’t need a garden to grow it. With just a few plastic bottles and a sunny spot, you can grow garlic vertically at home. This method is perfect for small spaces and also helps recycle plastic bottles in an eco-friendly way.
Why Grow Garlic Vertically?
Vertical gardening helps you maximize small spaces like balconies, patios, or kitchen windows. Garlic’s compact growth makes it an ideal candidate. You can enjoy fresh garlic greens within weeks, and with time and care, harvest full bulbs.
What You’ll Need
1.5L or 2L plastic bottles (clean, with labels removed)
Garlic cloves (preferably sprouted)
Potting soil rich in compost
A craft knife or scissors
Pebbles or coarse sand (for drainage)
A small trowel or spoon
String, wire, or hooks (for hanging)
Watering can or spray bottle
Preparing the Bottles
Clean the bottles
Wash thoroughly and remove labels.
Cut planting holes
Use a craft knife to cut 2–3 inch holes along the side of the bottle. Space them about 3 inches apart vertically. Stagger holes if you’re creating multiple rows.
Add drainage holes
Poke small holes in the bottom of each bottle to allow excess water to drain.
Create a base layer
Add a layer of pebbles or coarse sand for improved drainage.
Fill with soil
Begin filling the bottle with potting mix. As you reach each planting hole, insert a garlic clove (pointy side up), and continue filling as you move upward.
Hanging or Stacking Setup
Hanging:
Use string, wire, or hooks to hang the bottles vertically against a wall, railing, or fence that gets good sunlight.
Stacking:
Cut off the bottoms of the bottles and stack them on top of each other, aligning planting holes. This creates a vertical column garden.
Choose a location that receives at least 4–6 hours of sunlight per day. South-facing spots are ideal.
Planting the Garlic
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