Kitchen Garden Forum

Advice needed - My garlic, planted in February, has put on resonable growth but the leaves are looking a bit on the yellow side - not damaged, more that 'lack of something' kind of yellow. I have onions and shallots in the same bed all look fine, its just the block of garlic thats not looking to hot. Any suggestions?

Can you post any pictures? Are they still green anywhere or have the whole plants turned yellow?

Some general pointers with garlic:

a) It benefits from being hoe'd regularly to keep weeds down and break up the soil to allow more effective watering.

b) Although it's a Mediterranean plant, you can get a much better crop if you ensure it doesn't get too dry over March & April. The soil in my allotment is cracked open in places because it's so dry, so I've watered mine every 7-10 days for the last month.

c) You get a better crop if you give garlic some "K" during the Spring. Possible ways include Bonemeal or ordinary tomato feed. You could combine this with b) above.


Finally, my garlic's starting to show signs of rust. Though sometimes inevitable, you can reduce its spread by ensuring the leaves don't stay damp. If you have to water in the evening, keep the water on the soil round the base (don't use a sprinkler rose).


Good luck, Colin

Hello Sue
I have had this problem in previous years and put it down to a lack of Mg. I gave mine a sprinkling of dolomitic lime but watering with Epsom salts should would work just as well. Everything made a rapid recovery. Adding too much K can make the problem worse as this can induce a temporary a temporary deficiency of Mg.
Try watering with Epsom salts (dilution will be on the packet) - it certainly won't do any harm!

John

PS These sorts of symptoms don't usually mean that your soil is actually deficient in Mg just that the young plant is growing rapidly and unable to take up sufficient Mg from the soil for a while.

Thanks for the picture Sue.

It's always difficult judging colours on screen, but these don't look very different to mine when they were dry. Under more moist conditions, they go greener.

It strikes me that the upper leaves are more green, and just the older leaves or leaf tips going yellow. It's worth bearing in mind that some types of garlic can be ready to pick in May/June (depends on variety and on conditions, which have been warmer than most Springs). I have 4 different varieties on the go, the biggest of which have very noticeable bulbs forming under the soil. Don't worry if yours don't because it will depend on the variety and planting time (mine went in last October, so are well established).

If they look much more yellow than previous crops from the same variety, the earlier advice probably still holds.


Good luck, Colin

Many thanks for the advice - gave a good soak last night (then it rained here all day of course )and gave a feed of liquid growmore so fingers crossed. I actually dont know what variety it is - saved cloves from last years crop for the 1st time and cant remember what I grew last year.