For cultivating garlic bulbs indoors, softneck garlic is generally considered the best choice.
While both hardneck and softneck garlic varieties can potentially be grown indoors, especially if your primary goal is to harvest garlic greens, softneck garlic tends to yield better results in indoor setups if the objective is to harvest garlic bulbs. This is because hardneck garlic typically requires a period of cold dormancy (vernalization) to develop large bulbs, which can be difficult to replicate consistently in an indoor environment.
Why Choose Softneck Garlic for Indoor Bulb Growing?
Softneck garlic varieties are often favored for indoor cultivation aimed at bulb production due to their adaptability to warmer conditions compared to hardnecks. They also tend to produce more cloves per bulb and store longer.
Here's a simple comparison based on indoor suitability for bulbs:
- Softneck Garlic:
- Suitable for: Bulb production indoors, garlic greens.
- Requires: Less stringent cold period for bulb development.
- Yield: Tends to yield better bulbs indoors.
- Hardneck Garlic:
- Suitable for: Garlic greens indoors.
- Requires: Significant cold period for optimal bulb development (difficult indoors).
- Yield: Lower likelihood of developing large bulbs indoors without specific cold treatment.
Indoor Garlic Growing Considerations
Regardless of the type chosen for greens or bulbs, successful indoor garlic growing requires attention to a few key factors:
- Container Size: Choose a pot at least 6-8 inches deep to allow for root development. A wider pot allows you to plant multiple cloves.
- Soil: Use a well-draining potting mix.
- Light: Garlic needs plenty of light, ideally 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Supplement with grow lights if necessary, especially during shorter winter days.
- Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
- Temperature: Maintain consistent room temperature. While hardnecks need cold for bulbing, softnecks are more forgiving of typical indoor temperatures.
| Feature | Softneck Garlic | Hardneck Garlic |
|---|---|---|
| Best Indoors for Bulb | Yes, generally better yield | No, requires cold dormancy (difficult) |
| Best Indoors for Greens | Yes | Yes |
| Cold Requirement | Less stringent for bulbing | Essential for optimal bulbing |
| Storage Life | Longer | Shorter |
In summary, if you're dreaming of harvesting actual garlic bulbs from your indoor garden, softneck varieties offer the most promising results due to their lower cold requirement compared to hardnecks. If you're happy with just the delicious garlic greens, both types will work.
