The Leek Moth has arrived!

June 1 2010

It didn't take long for the leek moth to make its presence known. The moth is currently between the larvae and cocoon stage. So far this year I have tried cayenne & soapy water, a sticky corn syrup mixture, all with no success. The only way it seems to handle this situation is to squish them by hand. The larvae tend to be right where the scape forms. You must pull the leaves back at the scape to find them. Also, they will spin their cocoon on any of the leaves but usually around where you see damage.

As the scapes are coming on strong now, check for damage on the scape itself. If you see holes in the scape, they are in there, and they could be anywhere inside the scape. If you see any damage on the scape, remove the scape and if possible burn it. If you drop the scape on the ground they will continue to survive. Now is the time to eliminate as many as you can to limit the damage from the next generation. Remember, the moth will have at least 3 cycles during the summer.
Good luck

“Spring has sprung, the garlic has ris, I wonder where the leek moth is?”

April 19 2010

The garlic has sprouted somewhat earlier this year due to some stretches of warm weather. I have planted my garlic in a completely new field this year. I don’t like to grow garlic in the same plot for more than 3 years in a row if possible. Garlic planted in the same plot year after year can lead to a build up of the bulb and stem nematode, a microscopic organism in the soil which will rot the garlic plant at the root. However, there is another problem that can affect garlic, leeks and onions. The leek moth has finally arrived in this area.

Last year I found out first hand how much damage this pest can do. Originally thought to only attack the leaves and the scapes of the garlic, the larvae will also find its way to the bulb where it will burrow into the bulb itself. The leek moth will generally have 3 cycles during the course of spring and summer. Having overwintered, the moth will start flying in mid april, lay eggs, hatch, then the larvae will begin to feed before spinning a cocoon and then repeating the cycle.

The eggs are very difficult to detect, but once hatched the larvae will burrow into the scape and leaves. You will notice holes in the scape where it has entered. For home garden growers, simply break the scape open at entry and squish the worm. Also squish any cocoons you see, usually located on the leaves. For larger growers, this is a much more difficult task. As I don’t use pesticides, I am thinking of spraying a mixture of water, soap and cayenne to see if it has any effect. There probably are some commercial pesticides available, but as with most applications the timing must be precise. I will update my results.

When to Plant Garlic

October 2009

Garlic should be planted in the fall as the weather begins to become cooler.Prepare your planting bed by mixing in a good amount of composted manure. Plant each clove 2 to 3 inches deep with the root end down, approximately 8 to 10 inches apart. Depending on the size of your planting area, separation between rows should be 1 to 2 feet. If you are planning on using a rototiller to control weeds, allow for more space between rows.

Ideally, garlic needs to root before the winter freeze, so a few weeks of sunny weather would be great to allow this to happen. If the weather remains unseasonably warm, the garlic could begin to grow, so you do not want to plant too early. Since we are planting a few acres, I had to wait for the field to dry. I started my planting Oct 5 and hope to be finished by Oct 20.

The Garlic Is Growing!

June 2009

The weather this spring has been uncharacteristically cool and damp. While the garlic has shot out of the ground, the growth of the scapes has been delayed. The scape is the flowering stalk of the garlic plant which ultimately produces the seed. We snip off the scape once it begins to curl. The scape is also edible, with a mild garlic flavour. We use it as we would garlic in our sauces, soups and pizza.

I anticipate the scapes will be ready for sale in late June. If all goes well, the garlic should be ready at the end of July or early august.

Along with garlic, this year we have also planted potatoes, onions, tomatoes, beans, cauliflower, lettuce, beets, carrots and a variety of herbs. We are hoping for some hot weather, as most of our other crops delayed as well. Generally, we would like to see daytime temperatures in the 20’s and nighttime above 10 degrees.

We will keep our fingers crossed!