Why does garlic dry
Garlic does not require extra maintenance for good growth and high yields. Nevertheless, garlic sometimes dries when it has just begun to grow.
Garlic dries
Chlorosis causes
Chlorosis (yellowing and drying) occurs in both winter and spring (spring) garlic. Chlorosis of the foliage at the time of harvest is a natural symptom and does not require intervention. Spring or mid-summer yellowness is a dangerous sign and indicates serious cultural problems.
In most cases, the chlorophyll deficiency in the leaves first covers the tip, and then spreads to the rest of the surface. Due to the violation of the process of photosynthesis, the development of fruits slows down, sometimes stops completely.
Why do garlic leaves dry and turn yellow:
- infestation with diseases or insect pests;
- lack of nutrients, micro- and macroelements;
- violation of the irrigation regime;
- decrease in temperatures.
Diseases of garlic
The main diseases that provoke the development of chlorosis include:
- Downy mildew (downy mildew). This is a fungal disease in which the fetus stagnates in growth, the foliage turns yellow and becomes stained. Infection occurs through poor-quality seed or organic residues, when the affected plant comes into contact with a healthy one.
- Fusarium (bottom rot). This is the rapid death of foliage and roots caused by a fungus. It spreads with seed or soil.
- Bacterial rot. This is a bacterial attack, visually expressed in the appearance of brown specks on the fruits and the death of leaves, arrows and stalks of garlic.
The greatest growth of the disease is obtained in warm, humid weather.
Culture pests
The most common types of pests that cause yellowing of crops are:
- Stem nematode. This is the most dangerous pest for garlic. It spreads through the seed infected with eggs, it is able to stay in suspended animation for up to 8 years. The best conditions for insect life are clay soils with poor air circulation.
- Onion fly caterpillars. These pests damage the vegetative and generative organs of garlic (root, shoots, buds and inflorescences). They are especially dangerous for weakened plants.
Nutritional deficiency
Lack of trace elements negatively affects plants
The most common cause of crop nutrient deficiencies is deficiencies in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and boron:
- Nitrogen contributes to the growth and full development of garlic. Due to its lack, the vegetative process ends ahead of time, the fruit remains small, the leaves lose their color intensity and dry out.
- Potassium is necessary for the plant to fully assimilate nitrogen compounds and increase the keeping time of the fruit. Its lack is expressed by yellowing and marginal burns of the leaves (a narrow border around the edge).
- Garlic needs phosphorus to form fruit and strengthen the root system. Phosphorus deficiency is determined not only by the drying of the foliage, but also by the cessation of crop growth and the underdevelopment of the roots.
- Magnesium ensures the normal functioning of metabolic processes in the plant, influencing the growth and formation of the immune system. With a lack of an element, the leaves first change color to crimson-red, and then dry out completely.
- Boron promotes plant growth, in case of its deficiency, the leaves begin to dry from the middle to the edges.
Lack or excess of moisture
Garlic is picky about filling the soil with moisture. On the one hand, during intensive growth, a crop develops a great need for water, aggravated by an underdeveloped root system and a small force of moisture absorption by it. Another factor that increases the plant's need for water is the location of the roots in the upper layers of the soil, subject to desiccation.
On the other hand, garlic does not like waterlogging either - it is sensitive to watering and the level of groundwater. In conditions of an excess amount of moisture, the plant gets wet and dries up, provoking rotting, spreading diseases and stopping growth.
Lowering the temperature
The optimum temperature for growing garlic is 18-20 ° C. Winter varieties are more resistant to short-term cold snaps, but even for them prolonged exposure to cold is dangerous.
With long-term exposure to low temperatures in the plant, the normal course of photosynthesis is disrupted and a lack of chlorophyll is formed, which causes the cessation of crop growth, yellowing and death of leaves.
Chlorosis control methods
The choice of a method to combat leaf drying depends on the cause of chlorosis:
- If chlorosis was caused by a disease, the diseased heads are promptly removed. In some cases, it is possible to cure infected plants with fungicides or folk remedies: spraying, herbal decoctions, etc.
- In case of damage by pests at an early stage, manual collection of insects will help, at a later stage - the use of insecticides or folk recipes.
- With a deficiency of nutrients, timely application of fertilizers containing them plays an important role. Mulching (sprinkling) the soil with organic matter, ash or urea with potassium sulfate helps the plant to recover.
- In the event of an excess of water, the soil is sprinkled with humus or peat so that they absorb the excess. Garlic continues to be watered in rainy weather or at -5 ° C, which cannot be done: excess moisture accumulates and causes the development of chlorosis and decay.
- In dry weather without precipitation, the garlic is moistened immediately after the soil dries. For better moisture exchange, loosening of the soil cannot be neglected.
- Garlic can be exposed to frost if planted too early or atypical weather conditions (unpredictable spring and autumn cold snaps). Good protection of seedlings from the adverse effects of low temperatures is mulching (dusting the soil) with autumn fallen leaves or the use of biostimulants.
Prevention of occurrence
Preventive measures aimed at preventing the development of chlorosis include:
- compliance with the terms of planting culture;
- use of high-quality planting material;
- planting garlic in raised beds to drain excess water and limit access to groundwater;
- planting a plant in a soil enriched with nutrients and timely introduction of the necessary dressings;
- regular inspection of seedlings for the detection of pests or signs of the development of a disease;
- prompt removal of affected individuals and plant debris;
- development of an optimal watering system for garlic;
- compliance with the climatic calendar and weather forecast for the entire growing season (allows conclusions to be drawn about the appropriateness of the planting time, the need for mulching, building shelters and changes in the irrigation system).
Conclusion
Garlic yellowing and drying out causes a variety of reasons, from exposure to harmful microorganisms and pests to care errors, adverse weather conditions and nutritional deficiencies. If the stalks and leaves of garlic dry out, urgent measures must be taken until the growth stops completely and the crop dies.