Garlic
Also called Hardneck garlic, Softneck garlic.
| Light | full sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Every 7 days in the growing season, every 18 in winter |
| Humidity | medium |
| Difficulty | easy |
| Height | Up to 60 cm (24 in) tall |
| Pets | Cats toxic, dogs toxic |
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, toxic and non-toxic plants, Chives and Onion entries.
Edible here means commonly eaten. Nothing on this site is medical or dietary advice.
Toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. Toxic to cats, dogs and horses. The principle is N-propyl disulfide, which breaks down red blood cells, and every plant in the onion family carries it. Keep it where an animal that eats houseplants cannot reach it, and speak to a vet if one does. In South Africa telephone the Poison Information Helpline on 0861 555 777; in the US, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435.
Garlic is planted in autumn and harvested the following summer, which makes it the longest occupant of a vegetable bed and one of the least demanding of your attention. It needs a cold period to split into cloves, so an autumn planting matters more than a spring one, and a spring planted clove often gives a single round bulb instead of a head. Break a head into cloves at planting and set the largest ones pointed end up, five centimetres deep. Keep it weed free, stop watering once the tops begin to yellow, and lift when about half the leaves have gone over. Dry the bulbs somewhere airy for a fortnight before storing them. Like every allium, garlic is toxic to cats and dogs.
Ailments observed
| Yellow leaves at the bottom of the plant | Ripening, if it is early summer, or waterlogged ground if it is winter. Yellowing tops in summer mean it is nearly ready. Yellowing in a wet winter means the drainage needs help. |
|---|---|
| White or yellow mould on the compost | White rot, which persists in soil for years. Never plant garlic or onions in the same ground twice running, and destroy affected bulbs rather than composting them. |
Filed underPlants that forgive a beginner
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