Garlic Fields News
Garlic Update
September 2011
I apologize for the lateness in my update. This has been a disastrous year for my garlic. I have lost approximately 70% of my harvest. The extreme wet spring and some terrible seed garlic I purchased last year caused an infestation of the bulb and stem nematode in my field. The seed garlic I had purchased was shipped in sight unseen from a supplier I had trusted in the past. Buyer beware is the adage I guess.
The field I planted can no longer be used for garlic or any other crop in the related family. I have planted some asian mustard seed in the field as this is potentially an organic way to combat the bulb and stem nematode. However, the mustard seed must be planted and tilled under 3 times to take effect. I am currently trying to find some reputable garlic seed as I am hesitant to plant any of my own as current knowledge indicates that even fine looking garlic from my field could still contain the nematode. At this point I am willing to give it one more try if I can find decent seed, but even bulk orders are pricey as the demand is far outstripping supply.
I shall keep you informed.
Garlic Growing
April 2011
Spring has finally arrived...sort of. So far it has been a cool, wet spring which has delayed my planting of onions and cool weather greens such as spinach and lettuces but we are here to talk about garlic. I have approximately 3 acres of garlic in the ground which is substantially more than last year. The garlic has sprouted and it appears that there is not too much winterkill, although the lower section of my field remains wet and some garlic has been lost to spring runoff.. So far so good right? Not necessarily.
While most garlic will initially sprout, whether it matures to a healthy plant remains to be seen. Much depends on the quality of the seed you plant, soil condition, pests(leek moth) and diseases. One of the worst things to happen to your garlic patch is the bulb and stem nematode, a microscopic organism that lives in the soil and the garlic bulb itself. The nematode attacks the garlic tissue which in itself can lead to root rot, but also leaves the plant susceptible to diseases such as fusarium and moulds. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food has more detailed information available.
If you notice leaves turning yellow on a plant well before harvest time, it is most likely diseased and should be removed. You will be able to pull it out of the ground very easily as its roots have been compromised. Inspect your patch regularly and watch out for damage from the leek moth. This spring I have also planted a few rows of garlic to see how it compares to the fall planting. I will keep you informed.
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!
