Garlic: Organic Production

1. Garlic:
Organic Production
A Publication of ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service • 1-800-346-9140 • www.attra.ncat.org
By Janet Bachmann, Garlic is a cool-season crop grown in most regions of
updated by the U.S. This publication addresses most aspects of
Tammy Hinman, organic garlic production, including seed sources,
NCAT Agriculture organic fertility management, pest management
Specialists and harvesting and storage. Marketing and eco-
© 2008 NCAT nomic considerations, including enterprise budgets
for organic garlic production, are also addressed in
this publication. A resource and reference section
follows the publication.
Contents
Introduction ..................... 1 Introduction
C
Organic Production ....... 2 ultivated garlic, Allium sativum, is a
Seed Sources.................... 2 member of the lily family. It may be
Soil Fertility ...................... 3 divided into two subspecies: Allium
Planting.............................. 4 ophioscorodon (bolting or hard-neck cultivars)
Seed Stocks ...................... 5 and Allium sativum (non-bolting or soft-neck
Irrigation ............................ 6 cultivars). Allium ophioscorodon produces
Labor ................................... 6 elongated flower stalks, often referred to as
Pest Management.......... 6 scapes, and flower-like bulbils at the top of
Insects ................................ 7 the stalk. Soft-neck garlic does not produce
Diseases ............................. 8 bulbils except in times of stress. While both
Nematodes ..................... 11 bulbils and individual cloves can be propa-
Weeds ............................... 11 gated vegetatively, bulbils take longer—up
Harvest and Storage ... 12
to two seasons—to produce mature bulbs,
Marketing and
and require special care because the young
Economics....................... 14 plants are very small and fragile. Hard-neck cultivars like Rocambole and
Further Resources ........ 16 Porcelain usually do better in colder cli-
References ...................... 17 Elephant Garlic mates. The cloves are larger and easier
Appendix 1: Even though elephant garlic, Allium ampelo- to peel. A few of these variety names are
Farmer Profile ................ 19 prasum, is not considered a true garlic, we will 'Spanish Roja,' 'German Red,' 'Carpath-
Appendix 2: .................... 22 address its production in this publication. Closely ian,' and 'Music.'
Sample Garlic Budgets related to the leek, elephant garlic produces a
very large bulb of cloves with a mild garlic flavor Soft-neck garlic cultivars (Silverskin or Arti-
(Engeland, 1991). choke) are not recommended for northern
climates. Numerous strains exist, having
Elephant garlic usually is grown the same way as
a hard-neck/ bolting garlic, except that these big been selected over the years by the vari-
ATTRA—National Sustainable bulbs are planted farther apart. It is a specialty for ous companies that produce them for dehy-
Agriculture Information Service
is managed by the National Cen- people who want a milder garlic or who need a dration, or by growers producing them for
ter for Appropriate Technology larger clove due to reduced dexterity or arthri- the fresh market. Mechanized farms grow
(NCAT) and is funded under a
grant from the United States
tis. This allium is much less productive (an in:out and develop cultivars of soft-neck garlic
Department of Agriculture’s Rural ratio of 1:3) than true garlics and must be sold at because the planting process can be mech-
Business-Cooperative Service. a higher price. Also the plant is less winter hardy anized. Since they don't produce a scape
Visit the NCAT Web site (www. than all common garlic cultivars and the bulbs
ncat.org/sarc_current. (flower stalk), the cloves can be planted
php) for more informa- will not keep as long, so it is not recommended in
tion on our sustainable climates with very cold winters. (Gough, 1999) upside down. Topsetting (hard-neck) garlic
agriculture projects. cloves must be set upright. There are fewer

2. cultivars of soft-neck garlic, compared to clarify this. See “Genetic Diversity of
topsetting. The varieties 'California Early' Garlic” by Stern and Volk for more infor-
and 'California Late' comprise 90 percent mation on this project. It wasn't until 2003
of the soft-neck types grown commercially. that Dr. Gayle Volk of the USDA Agricul-
tural Service ran DNA analysis on several
Organic Garlic Production large garlic collections and determined that
there are 10 separate garlic types. Growers
Garlic is well adapted for production in
throughout the U.S. are now participating in
most parts of the temperate U.S. Yield and a national project by growing each of these
quality vary with climate, region, altitude, cultivars in different regions to determine
soil and pH, cultural practices, and vari- which varieties perform well under their
ety of garlic. The term "biological elastic- growing conditions, and to come up with
ity" describes garlic's ability to acclimatize descriptors to publicize these types of garlic
to these factors over time. That is, the same to their customers (Stern and Volk, 2007).
variety can look, taste, or produce differ- While many producers are concerned with
ently depending on its geography, altitude, yields, other factors such as consistency,
etc. No one practice is best suited for every growth characteristics, and market prefer-
situation. You will want to talk with other ence are equally important. David advises
Related ATTRA garlic growers in your area and experiment
Publications that growers experiment to find which
with different cultural practices and vari- varieties work best in their particular
Organic Allium eties to discover the best combination for climates and soils.
Production your operation.
We do not recommend buying garlic for
Overview of Organic Certain considerations and practices in planting from the produce section of a gro-
Crop Production garlic production will be the same for both cery store. It has often been treated to pre-
Sources of Organic organic growers and conventional growers vent sprouting and is not grown regionally.
Fertilizers and within a given region. For instance, site
Amendments selection and planting techniques are simi-
You can find garlic planting stock at the
Sustainable Soil lar for both conventional and organic garlic
following sources.
Management culture. Information on these topics is avail-
able through the Cooperative Extension 1) Local farmers at farmers' markets or road-
Service, the garlic growers associations, side and farm stands. Select only large,
disease-free bulbs for planting.
and common vegetable and herb texts,
bulletins, and trade magazines. See the 2) Garlic Seed Foundation list, sent on request
Further Resources section for a list if you furnish a stamped self-addressed
of these. Accordingly, this publication envelope. See “Further Resources” section
below for contact information.
focuses primarily on organic management
practices for pests, diseases, and weeds, 3) Other seed-saver organizations, such as
and fertility, and seed sources specific for Seed Savers Exchange, Southern Exposure
organic production. Seed Exchange, and Native Seed Search.
See “Further Resources."
Seed Sources 4) Commercial seed catalogs.
Although garlic is listed in many com- 5) Internet.
mercial seed catalogs, "Buy local!" is the
advice from David Stern of the Garlic Seed Many farmers will initially source their gar-
Foundation. (Stern, 2001) If you buy from lic seed from one of the sources listed above
out of state, it will take a couple of years and then sell only what they do not intend to
for the garlic to acclimatize itself, due to plant for the following season. This assures
the biological elasticity mentioned above. that the garlic seed will become adapted to
David says there is an ongoing debate their particular climatic and soil conditions.
about varieties, and recent research with Other growers prefer to purchase new seed
a northeastern SARE project is working to every year, as they are able to obtain high
Page 2 ATTRA Garlic: Organic Production

3. prices for their garlic and it is much cheaper on organic fertility management in veg-
to just buy the seed. etable crops see the ATTRA Publication
Sustainable Soil Management.
The USDA National Organic Program
requires Certified Organic planting stock. Since garlic is a high-value crop and a
heavy feeder, it deserves your best ground.
USDA National Organic Program Rule It needs full sun and a full range of avail-
able nutrients. A pH of 6.8 to 7.2 is ideal;
§ 205.204 Seeds and planting stock practice
many nutrients are tied up in soils that are
standard.
more alkaline or more acidic than this.
(a) The producer must use organically grown Garlic will grow in almost any well-drained,
seeds, annual seedlings, and planting stock: friable (easily crumbled in the hand)
Except, That,
soil, preferably with high organic matter Tips for
(1) Non-organically produced, untreated seeds content. High organic matter aids in soil purchasing
and planting stock may be used to produce an water-holding capacity and drainage. If pos- garlic seed:
organic crop when an equivalent organically sible, begin soil preparation the year before
produced variety is not commercially available,
planting. In his book Growing Great Garlic, • Find a local source,
Except, That, organically produced seed must so that your garlic
be used for the production of edible sprouts;
Ron Engeland recommends building up the
does not have to go
soil over a period of 1-2 years using ani- through a 2-3 year
(2) Non-organically produced seeds and plant- mal and green manures before the garlic is period of adaption to
ing stock that have been treated with a sub-
planted (Engeland, 1991). See the ATTRA your climate.
stance included on the National List of syn-
thetic substances allowed for use in organic
publication Overview of Cover Crops and
• Buy your seed from a
crop production may be used to produce an Green Manures for information on building reputable source—ask
organic crop when an equivalent organically soils with cover crops. other garlic growers
produced or untreated variety is not commer- where they get
cially available;
Provide additional nitrogen, if needed,
their seed.
through supplemental use of organic fertil-
(5) Seeds, annual seedlings, and planting stock izers. Nitrogen can be applied in the fall • Do not purchase
treated with prohibited substances may be at planting if a slow-release fertilizer such your garlic seed
used to produce an organic crop when the from a store, as is it
application of the materials is a requirement
as soybean meal is used. Avoid applying
has most likely been
of Federal or State phytosanitary regulations. any form of soluble nitrogen fertilizer in
sprayed with an anti-
the fall to prevent contamination of ground sprouting agent.
water as well as loss of nitrogen to leaching.
Do not apply nitrogen when the bulbs are • Carefully inspect
For regional sources of organic garlic seed your garlic seed for
see ATTRA's Organic Seed Suppliers data- beginning to enlarge, since it will encour-
disease. If there is any
base, available on our Web site, www.attra. age excessive leaf growth and reduce bulb sign of disease, do
ncat.org. If you do not have Internet access, size. Another way to add fertility is to side- not plant it. Once you
call 1-800-346-9140 for a printed list. dress with compost after leaf emergence introduce certain dis-
in the fall, then apply fertilizer again in eases to the soil, it can
Soil Fertility the spring. Avoid fertilizing beyond May, be very difficult to get
since high nitrogen levels at this stage may rid of them.
We recommend getting a soil test before you actually decrease bulb size. Some organic
begin field preparation. Request recommen- growers apply foliar sprays of liquid fi sh
dations for nutrient requirements for onions and seaweed fertilizer, several times in the
when you send a soil sample to a soil-test- spring (Rosen et al., 1999); (The Garlic
ing laboratory. Many soil testing laborato-
Store, 2006).
ries only include the conventional NPK rec-
ommendations. See the ATTRA publication If foliar feeding is used to supply nutrients,
IP105, Alternative Soil Testing Laboratories, it should be done prior to the 4th or 5th
for a listing of laboratories that include leaf stage. A good surfactant (or spreader-
information on organic matter, humus, min- sticker) is essential to hold the solution on
eral analysis, and alternative fertility rec- the garlic's waxy leaves. There are a lim-
ommendations. For additional information ited number of spreader-stickers that are
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 3

4. approved by the National Organic Program.
If you are certified organic, see the OMRI
list of approved products or check with your
certification agency to ensure that you are
using a permissible product.
When to Plant
Fall/early winter planting is recommended
in all parts of the U.S. A cold period is
required in order for the mother bulb to split
into cloves. The bolting cultivars of garlic
require a cold period to trigger cellular divi- These popped cloves are free of defects and ready to
sion. For spring planting, which is not rec- plant. Photo courtesy of Hood River Garlic.
ommended, the bulbs need to be refriger-
ated at 40°F for 40 days. By planting garlic creamy white without any discolorations.
in the fall, the plants obtain significant root Discard anything that appears diseased,
I
growth before the ground freezes. Then in small, soft, damaged, or discolored. This is
f the garlic is the spring the plant focuses its energy on time-consuming, but important.
planted too late sprouting, leaf growth, and ultimately bulb
Crack each bulb into individual cloves
in the fall to development. If the garlic is planted too late
(referred to as “popping”). Plant cloves with
obtain significant in the fall to obtain significant root growth,
the root end down. Where winters are mild,
this will ultimately detract from bulb size the
root growth, this will plant cloves one inch deep; where winters
following summer. Fall-planted garlic grows
ultimately detract are severe, put them two to four inches
rapidly when the weather warms in spring.
from bulb size the deep. In general, plant the biggest and best
Bulb growth in garlic, like many alliums, cloves from the best bulbs. They will gener-
following summer.
is dependent on the lengthening of the day ate the biggest bulbs. This will also build
and the accumulation of degree days (heat up bigger seed stock over time. Keith Stew-
units). In northern latitudes, most growers art of Keith’s Farm plants the medium to
plant garlic in October before the ground large bulbs, refraining from the largest. “It
freezes. This gives the plant time to make should also be said that planting the biggest
good root development but not enough time cloves does not necessarily assure the best
to make leaf growth. Where winter sets in garlic, in terms of fl avor and hardiness.”
earlier, growers are recommended to plant (Gough, 1999)
garlic two to three weeks after the fi rst frost Mulch is used frequently in organic gar-
(below 32°F) (Rosen et al., 1999). Where lic production. It helps improve winter
winters are milder, garlic can be planted as survival, suppress weeds, conserve soil
late as mid-December. In some parts of Cal- moisture, and prevent soil erosion. It can
ifornia, it can be planted as late as Febru- also increase yields by keeping the soil
ary or March. We recommend talking with cooler. Garlic quits growing when the soil
local producers and your county Coopera- temperature increases to above 90°F. David
tive Extension to determine the best time to Stern establishes a winter cover crop/ mulch
plant garlic in your region. on his New York state farm by planting oats
in late August or early September. The
How to Plant oats are six inches tall when he plants gar-
Garlic is propagated vegetatively from the lic. He uses a disc-furrower on a tool bar
clove. One clove produces one bulb. The behind his tractor to cut slices through the
size of both the clove and the bulb is an oats. Garlic is set into the furrows. The oats
important consideration when selecting continue to grow until killed by winter frost
planting stock. Grade your garlic for both (Stern, 2001). This system works well in
size and quality. Bulbs should be firm areas with deep freezes, however, in milder
without soft spots or defects and the cloves climates, the oats will become a problem the
Page 4 ATTRA Garlic: Organic Production

5. Raised beds at Hood River Garlic farm. Photo courtesy of Hood River Garlic.
Clove spacing of 6 inches by 12 inches is
best, except for some varieties of the Por-
celain cultivars and elephant garlic, which
Garlic can also be mulched with clean straw or other
organic material immediately after planting in cli- require a spacing of 12 inches by 12 inches
mates with very hard frosts. If you live in warmer to produce the largest bulbs.
areas, it is good to mulch after the ground gets cold,
so that the cloves will experience their required chill-
ing vernalization period. Photo courtesy of Hood Seed Stalks
River Garlic. Hard-neck varieties put up a tall, woody,
round, flowering stalk, or scape, that grows
subsequent spring if they are not winter- bulbils at the top. If the plant is allowed to
killed. The oats go from a living mulch in put its energy into these bulbils, the bulb
the field to a dead mulch in the winter, when forming below the ground
the erosion potential is strong. No “living- can be 1/3 smaller than if the
mulch” crop combinations have been iden- scape is removed. Many farm-
tified that do not compromise yields in gar- ers cut the scapes when they
lic (Stern 2007). are young and tender, to eat or
sell them. They can be used
The garlic will have no trouble pushing
for pickles, pesto, or stir-fry.
through an inch or more of mulch. Mulch
“Depending on the planting
is typically used by operations without
density, 300 – 800 pounds of
mechanical harvest, as it will make harvest-
scapes per acre can be har-
ing by machine difficult or impossible.
vested, which sell for between
Garlic is often planted in raised beds for $1.00 and $3.00 per pound,”
ease of digging, good soil drainage, and says Stern. He advises cutting
reduction of soil compaction. Hood River or snapping off the scapes on
Garlic uses a bed maker that is attached a sunny day so that the wound
to their tractor. Terry Browne Hixson, co- will heal/ dry quickly. If you
owner of Hood River Garlic, claims that are not selling the scapes,
“the most vital piece of equipment that we they should still be removed Many farmers cut the scapes when they are
own is our John Deer Tractor. Without the from the field as a sanitary young and tender, to eat or sell them.
tractor, tiller and raised-bed maker our measure to lessen the poten- Photo courtesy of MaryJanesFarm,
crop yields could not be so successful.” tial for disease. www.maryjanesfarm.org
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 5

6. Irrigation
Garlic needs a continuous supply of mois- "When we kill off the natural enemies of a pest,
ture when it is actively growing. If the we inherit their work." —Carl Huffaker, Biological
ground is dry, one inch of rainfall per week Control Pioneer, UC Berkeley
or the equivalent in irrigation is needed for Maintaining and increasing biological diversity
best garlic growth. Drip or trickle irrigation of the farm system is a primary strategy of cul-
is recommended. If you are using mulch, tural control. Decreased biodiversity tends to
lay the drip irrigation lines after planting result in agroecosystems that are unstable and
prone to recurrent pest outbreaks and many
and before mulching in the fall. Stop irri-
other problems. Systems high in biodiversity
gating at least two weeks prior to harvest. tend to be more dynamically stable. The variety
of organisms provides more checks and bal-
Labor ances on each other, which helps prevent one
species from overwhelming the system and
Labor needs vary seasonally. David Stern becoming a pest.
notes that 20 to 25 "human interventions"
are needed between the time he starts Factors influencing the health and biodiver-
and the time he sells bulbs (Stern, 2001). sity of soils include the amount of soil organic
M
matter, soil pH, nutrient balance, moisture,
ost pests Planting and harvest are critical times. and parent material of the soil. Healthy soils
that If you do not use mulch, hand cultivation with a diverse community of organisms sup-
attack should also be a consideration in labor. port plant health and nutrition better than
You should keep this in mind if you are soils deficient in organic matter and low in
onions will also
considering expansion of your garlic plant- species diversity.
attack garlic. These ing. If you double your acreage, you will Research has shown that excess nutrients as
include onion thrips, also double the time spent on each process, well as relative nutrient balance in soils will
onion maggots, such as cracking the "seed" bulbs into affect insect pest response to plants. Imbal-
grasshoppers, and cloves, digging, bunching, and cleaning. ances in the soil can make a plant more attrac-
gophers. Storage space needs are also doubled. Mr. tive to insect pests, less able to recover from
Stern cautions that a garlic grower makes pest damage, or more susceptible to second-
ary infections by plant pathogens. Soils rich in
a large investment in this crop: tasks must
organic matter tend to suppress plant patho-
be done on time or the crop and the invest- gens. In addition, it is estimated that 75 percent
ment will be lost. of all insect pests spend part of their life cycle
in the soil, and many of their natural enemies
If you are planning to significantly expand
occur there as well. Overall, a healthy soil with
your acreage, mechanizing the planting and a diversity of beneficial organisms and high
harvesting can alleviate some of the labor organic matter helps maintain pest popula-
requirements associated with the expan- tions below their economic thresholds.
sion. Erme, a Dutch company, manufactures
For more information on ecological pest man-
bulb planters. A typical 12-row planter can agement, see the ATTRA publications, Biointen-
plant 25 acres of bulbs in a day. There are sive Integrated Pest Management and Farmscap-
also 3-, 4-, and 8-row configured planters ing to Enhance Biological Control.
(Dutch Valley Growers, 2006). Erme also
manufactures single-row garlic harvesters.
Most pests that attack onions will also
Pest Management attack garlic. These include onion thrips,
Healthy soil builds healthy plants and is a onion maggots, grasshoppers, and gophers.
foundation of ecological pest management. Diseases are caused by a number of fungi,
Practices such as crop rotation and the cre- bacteria, nematodes, and viruses. Learn-
ation of habitat for beneficial organisms ing to identify the symptoms is the fi rst
work to manage pests by increasing the bio- step in management. Growing Great Garlic
logical diversity on the farm. The following (Engeland, 1991) has a section on pests
is an excerpt from the ATTRA publication and diseases that gives good descriptions
Biointensive Integrated Pest Management. and management techniques. Two other
Page 6 ATTRA Garlic: Organic Production

7. excellent resources are Compendium of
Onion and Garlic Diseases (Schwartz and
Mohan, 2007) and Integrated Pest Manage-
ment for Onions (Hoffman, et al., 1996). The
Cooperative Extension Service can also help
in pest identification. Once you identify a
pest, refer to ATTRA’s Biorationals: Ecologi-
cal Pest Management Database as a source of
information on different control mechanisms
for the pests that are listed below.
Soil solarization is a process that uses heat
from the sun for controlling many soil-borne
plant pathogens, weeds, and nematodes.
Basically, when clean-tilled soil is covered
with clear plastic for several weeks during Thrips nymphs and adults rasp the leaves and other plant tissue to encourage the
the hottest part of the summer, solar heat release of sap, which is then consumed. When damage is severe, the entire plant
builds up under the plastic, killing many may wilt and die (Davidson and Lyon, 1987). Photos courtesy of InsectImages.org.
weed seeds and disease-causing organisms.
This timing corresponds particularly well onion thrips. Adult female predatory mites
as a pre-planting technique for fall-planted (Neoseiulus) consume from 1 to 10 young
garlic. The bulletin Soil Solarization: A thrips per day and have a 30-day life-
Non-Chemical Method for Controlling Diseases span. They can also survive on pollen and
and Pests gives more specific details and is other spider mites in the absence of thrips.
available from the University of Califor- Repeat applications of predators must be
nia Department of Agriculture and Natural made to establish a 1:2 ratio of predators
Resources. Information on how to obtain this to prey. Neoseiulus attacks fi rst instar (very
is available under Further Resources. young) thrips only and does not move long
distances from where it is first placed. They
Terry Browne Hixson from Hood River
Organic Garlic suggests scouting as a pest are most often applied in small piles at the
management tool. Her partner Eric spends base of plants, or in paper bags. Usually,
countless hours out in his fields, especially a small hole is made in the bag, and mites
during the summer months, when he spends move out of the bag slowly.
many hours daily inspecting the crops. Carol Glenister of IPM Laboratories in
Locke, New York, has researched the use of
Insects predatory mites for control of onion thrips
Onion thrips begin to migrate when weeds in the field. She says the results were not
in surrounding fields begin to dry up. Mon- encouraging (Glenister, 2006). Thrips are
itoring thrips with hot pink sticky traps hard to control through biological con-
should start before this migration begins. trols because of their mobility and num-
Since adults and nymphs will inhabit weedy bers. They migrate in large numbers (in
areas surrounding the field, keep these the billions) from neighboring areas that
areas weed-free to reduce thrips infesta- are drying up, and the mites fi nd it diffi-
tions. After the crop is harvested, the tops cult to prey on them all at once. Glenister
should be raked together and burned to suggests that release of beneficial insects is
reduce overwintering populations. not the answer, but ensuring natural habi-
Several species of lady beetles, as well as tats, and providing crop diversity would be
the minute pirate bug, are predators of more effective. Habitat enhancement for
onion thrips (Davidson and Lyon, 1987). natural predators and parasites is discussed
The predatory mites Amblyseius cucumeris in the ATTRA publication Farmscaping to
and A. barkeri are also reported to attack Enhance Biological Control.
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 7

8. There are several "least-toxic," or biora- material has microscopic sharp edges that
tional, pesticides that may reduce thrips pierce soft bodies and causes them to dehy-
populations. According to Dr. Richard drate. Apply after a light rain for better
Lindquist, entomologist at Ohio State Uni- effectiveness (Coviello, 2007).
versity, a mixture of M-Pede® (insecticidal
Good cultural practices are essential in
soap) and SunSpray Ultra-Fine Spray Oil®
controlled western flower thrips—a closely controlling this pest. Start by rotating your
related thrips species—in a greenhouse trial crops. Don't plant garlic in the same place
(Lindquist, 2001). Sunspray is no longer two years in a row. Once the pest's breeding
available from the manufacturer; however cycle is broken by planting its host (garlic
Safe-T-Side horticultural oil may be an apt and onions) in a different spot, you can use
substitute. a floating row cover to keep the fl ies from
laying eggs on your fresh plants (Rodale
Neem oil, a botanical pesticide extracted Press, 2006). Use the cover immediately
from the neem tree, Azadirachta indica, after planting cloves, and insure it extends
has shown good control of a variety of agri- at least six inches beyond each side of the
cultural pests. Dr. Lindquist indicates that planted bed. Remove and destroy garlic
it provided control of flower thrips in the debris at the end of the season (Davis et
greenhouse after a series of four weekly al., 2007).
applications. (Note: Neem is not a good
rescue treatment, but works as an insect Bulb mites and leafminers can also be sig-
growth regulator and should be applied nificant garlic pests in California. Bulb
early in the crop cycle.) Before spraying a mites damage bulbs by penetrating the
new biorational pesticide, always check with outer layer of tissue and allowing rotting
your certifier to confi rm that the product is organisms to gain entry. This pest is most
approved for organic production. damaging when plant growth is slowed by
cool, wet weather. Bulb mites can reduce
plant stands, stunt plant growth, and pro-
Onion Maggot mote rot of bulbs in storage. (Coviello,
Beneficial nematodes have shown to be 2007). Management includes rotating garlic
effective with onion maggots. Steinernema and onions with other crops, avoiding rapid
carposporae and Steinernema feltiae are rotation of garlic into areas with high resi-
the most effective species for maggot con- due, and insisting on clean garlic seed. Hot
trol, with the latter water treatment of seed garlic before plant-
being more tolerant of ing may reduce mite infestation.
cool soil. For the most
effective nematode bio- Damage by leafminers in garlic is of little
logical control, spray concern unless populations become so high
in the morning and as to prematurely kill foliage. Close proxim-
evening and keep soil ity to crops such as lettuce, celery, or spin-
moist. Beneficials such ach will increase the potential for damage
as ground and rove bee- by leafminers in garlic. Natural enemies,
tles, birds, and braco- especially parasitic wasps, are effective at
nid wasps prey on all managing leafminer populations.
life stages of the maggot
(Davis et al., 2007). Diseases
Onion Maggots, Delia antigua, will also become
a pest on garlic. Adults of Delia species are small Diatomaceous ear th Most garlic diseases are either soil- or seed-
gray flies that are somewhat smaller than house spread around early borne and usually can be controlled with
flies. When at rest, they keep their wings folded transplants has also proper rotation and by planting disease-free
one over the other. Larvae are creamy white,
shown effectiveness in seed. Certain cultural practices can help to
legless maggots about 0.4 inch (10 mm) long
(Coviello, 2007). Photo courtesy of J. Ogrodnick, treating the maggots. reduce the incidence of diseases in garlic.
Cornell University; NYSAES. The fine fossilized shell Crop rotations away from other species of
Page 8 ATTRA Garlic: Organic Production

9. alliums and from fields with a history of dis-
ease problems are recommended. Sanitation
is another important aspect of disease con-
trol. If you see any yellowing or misshapen
leaves in the field, they should be removed
and destroyed. Culls and diseased foliage
should also be removed and either burned
or buried away from the field after harvest.
Purchasing disease-free stock is essential in
avoiding disease problems.
The most common diseases in garlic
include:
White Rot
Sclerotium cepivorum is a major disease Foliar Symptoms of Fusarium show yellowing and/or browning (necrosis) of leaves
beginning at tips. The discoloration will move toward the base of the leaf, which
of commercial garlic grown in Califor- will eventually wither and die. Photo from http://www.extension.umn.edu.
nia and the Pacific Northwest. The organ-
ism is most active when the temperature is
cool (less than 75°F). In northern climates
it usually attacks in the spring. Symptoms
include premature yellowing and dying of
older leaves, stunting, and leaf tipburn, Fusarium sp. in garlic
followed by destruction of the root system, head. Photo copyright
shoot dieback, and rotting of the bulb. Con- held by Melodie Putnam,
trol by rotating out of allium crops for many Oregon State University.
years (white rot has been known to persist
in soil for 10 years), destroying infected
tissue, and planting disease-free seed stock
(Coviello, 2007). Spraying garlic extract in
the absence of the allium crop may stim-
ulate the fungal mycelium to grow and
exhaust itself several weeks before planting is much slower and death of the plant may
(soil temperature needs to be between 60 not occur. In the field, affected plants may
and 70°F) resulting in a successful subse- show reduced emergence, yellowing and/or
quent garlic crop. Apply the garlic extract browning (necrosis) of leaves beginning at
in 10 to 150 gallons of water per acre. tips. The discoloration will move toward the
Use of this product before planting causes base of the leaf, which will eventually wither
sclerotia in soil to germinate and die before and die. (Jepson, 2006) Bulbs infected with
the crop is planted (Jepson, 2006). Fusarium may decay further in storage.
This disease is controlled by proper crop
Fusarium (Basal or Bottom Rot) rotation with non-susceptible crops for four
years, removal of infected plants, and plant-
Fusarium oxysporum and F. cepae are the
ing disease-free seed (Coviello, 2007).
causal organisms of this fungus, which
is present in all soils and is usually con-
sidered a secondary invader because it Botrytis
attacks plants that have been weakened by Symptoms of Botrytis include water-soaked
insects, mechanical damage, or other dis- stems, which is why the disease is often
eases. It is the most common disease found called "neckrot." In severe infections,
on planting stock. Fusarium is most active the bulbs may rot. In mild infections, the
at high temperatures. Symptoms are simi- disease may not be noticed during the sea-
lar to white rot, except disease progression son, but may attack the bulb during storage
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 9

10. touching the bulb and avoid bruising or
wounding stored bulbs. Prevent the disease
by planting clean stock.
Rust
Puccinia allii, also called Puccinia porri, is
the fungus that causes rust. Until recently,
this fungus was considered to be of minor
importance in garlic production. However,
outbreaks in California in the late 1990s
reduced crop yields by up to 75 percent
in some fields. Initial symptoms occur on
the foliage and stem as small white flecks
that develop into orange spots (spores) or
pustules. The bulbs become shrunken and
deformed. Heavily infected plants may turn
yellow and die. Conditions favorable for dis-
Botrytis squamosa is a fungus that attacks garlic leaves following periods of
warm, wet weather as well as bulbs in storage. Photo courtesy of M. D. Wu and G.
ease development include high humidity, low
Q. Li. Copyright The American Phytopathological Society. light, and low rainfall and a temperature
between 45 degrees and 55°F (Schwartz and
Mohan, 2007). Disease incidence is highest
in stressed plants. To reduce infection poten-
tial, use healthy seed in well-drained soil.
Post-harvest Botrytis Rotate with non-allium crops.
neck rot in garlic cloves.
Photo courtesy of the
WSU IMPACT Center. Other Diseases
Bacterial soft rots are characterized by soft-
ening and water soaking of one or more of
the inner fleshy scales of the bulb. Affected
tissue is yellow initially, turning brown as the
(Schwartz and Mohan, 2007). Control this disease progresses lengthwise in the bulb.
disease by promoting air movement through The neck of infected bulbs may be soft when
the field so that foliage does not remain pressed. These organisms generally appear
wet. Rapid drying during harvest, followed just before or at the time of harvest or in
by good aeration during storage, will also storage. This organism is more common in
minimize the problem. Use disease-free onion than in garlic. Wounds and senescent
planting stock. leaves are the means by which bacteria gain
entrance into the bulb. It is spread through
Penicillium Molds direct contact with water. Avoid overhead
irrigation once garlic begins to bulb.
Penicillium is both a field and storage
disease. Plants from infected cloves planted Black mold is first evident at the top or sides
in the fall will often emerge in the spring, of the bulb where disease or injury has
turn yellow, and then die. A blue-green caused an opening in the skin. The fungus
color is observed on cloves in soil and in develops between dry, dead outer scales
storage, thus its common name, “Blue and the first inner fleshy scales of the bulb.
Mold.” (Schwartz and Mohan, 2007) When Invaded scales initially become water soaked.
conditions are optimum for rapid garlic Under dry conditions diseased scales dry
bulb emergence, the plant may outgrow the and shrivel, and black masses of spores are
disease. Air-borne spores spread the dis- visible between outer scales. Gentle handling
ease. If a bulb is infected, do not use the of the bulbs post-harvest is a preventive mea-
cloves for planting stock. Wash hands after sure for this disease. (Davis et al., 2007)
Page 10 ATTRA Garlic: Organic Production

11. Nematodes if possible. This helps eradicate
the bulb or stem nematode from
Ditylenchus dipsaci is a stem and bulb spe-
loose (cracked) cloves but not from
cies of nematode. Plant parasitic nematodes
intact bulbs.
are microscopic roundworms that live in soil
and plant tissue and feed on plants by punc-
turing and sucking the cell contents with a
Viruses
needlelike mouthpart called a stylet. The There has been a high incidence of multi-
stem and bulb nematode lives within the ple viruses found in garlic fields in Canada
plant, feeding in stems, leaves, and bulbs and throughout the United States in recent
(Westerdahl, 2007). The only known hosts years. However, there are only rare situa-
for the garlic strain belong to the onion fam- tions where these have had economic con-
ily: garlic, onion, leek, and chive (Ocamb, sequences. The most obvious symptoms are
2007). The stem and bulb nematode pen- “radical abnormal leaf expression, such as
etrates the germinating clove and destroys extreme curling, stunting, swollen veins and
tissue as it moves through, seeking food. unusual protrusions.” (Brunt et al., 1996)
Nematodes suck the cell contents and their If your garlic crop shows these symptoms,
salivary secretions cause the cells to col- it may grow out of it, but will still have the
lapse. Root knot nematodes can cause stunt- virus. It is important not to use seed from
ing and reduce a stand of garlic. Stubby root that crop for the following year.
nematode causes stunting of plants.
Plants infested with the stem and bulb nem-
Weeds
atode have distorted and bloated tissue with Good weed control is essential in garlic
a spongy appearance; the plants are stunted production. Alliums are slow-growing, shal-
low-rooted crops that can suffer severe yield
with shortened and thickened leaves, often
loss from weed competition (Smith et al.,
with brown or yellowish spots. In the field,
2007). Planted in the fall and harvested in
top growth will yellow and ripen prema-
the mid-summer of the next year, garlic will
turely. The whole bulb may separate from
be in the ground nine months. It is there-
the basal plate.
fore vulnerable to competition from winter
Management options include: and summer annual weeds. Weed competi-
tion, even early in the growth of the crop,
• Eradicate volunteer garlic plants
can reduce yields. In addition to reducing
from fields having a history of stem
yield and quality, weeds also interfere with
and bulb nematode.
mechanical harvesting equipment.
• Avoid other hosts of the nematode in
your rotation if possible. To reduce
reintroduction and spread of this
pest, it is necessary to implement
a three-year crop rotation with a
non-host crop and to bury or burn
infested or contaminated seed and
plant debris.
• Plant only nematode-free cloves.
• Soak cloves at 100°F for 30 min-
utes in water containing 0.1
percent surfactant; then soak at
120°F for 20 minutes in the same
Hood River Garlic Farm uses a smother cover-crop of buckwheat in the summer,
kind of solution. Cool cloves in tap before the garlic is planted. Buckwheat is easily broken down and its large cotyle-
water for 10 to 20 minutes before dons (first leaves) and fast growing habit are quite effective at smothering summer
drying for 2 hours at 100°F, or plant weeds. Photo courtesy of Hood River Garlic.
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 11

12. If possible, advance field preparation with minimal to no control on grasses, how-
a weed-suppressing cover crop such as ever. Test plots sprayed from both sides of
rye or sorghum-sudan grass can signifi- the row had virtually no broadleaf weeds
cantly reduce weeds as well as build up soil at the end of the trial. There was no dif-
organic matter. Mulching new plantings has ference in plant size, maturity date, qual-
already been mentioned as a way to control ity, yield, bulb size, appearance, or keeping
weeds. If mulch is used, it should be thick ability between the test plots and the con-
enough to last until harvest. Avoid spent trol plots. Despite the unusually cold and
hay and inspect straw for weed seeds. If wet spring during which this trial was con-
mulch is used, garlic will have to be dug by ducted (which impacted the ability to make
hand rather than machine harvested. Gar- timely applications), they found that there
lic can also follow any well-cultivated crop, was a 94 percent reduction in labor (associ-
like carrots. ated with weed management) by using vin-
egar rather than in-row weeding. (Forsburg,
Cultivation is another method of weed con-
2004) It is important to use a mask and
trol. If the soil is not mulched, various types
gloves when handling and spraying acetic
of cultivators or tillers can be used to con-
acid-based herbicides, as they can be caus-
G
trol weeds between rows and wheel tracks
auging the tic to your skin and lungs.
on the sides of the beds. The weeds within
right time the plant rows may be removed by hand cul-
to harvest is tivation. David Stern has adapted his tractor Harvest and Storage
very important. Gar- equipment for cultivation with small discs Gauging the right time to harvest is very
lic will double in size that throw dirt between the plants. The gar- important. Garlic will double in size during
lic leaves are not covered, but small weeds its last stage of growth. If dug too soon, the
during its last stage
are eliminated. cloves will not have grown to their maxi-
of growth. mum size. If bulbs are dug too late, they
Flame weeding works with garlic, as well may have begun to split apart in the soil.
as with onions. At six commercial organic David Stern often begins harvesting when
farms in Europe, flaming was tried on the leaf tips start to brown. Ron Engeland
onions before the four-leaf stage and also uses the number of green leaves left on
later in their development (Desvaux and Ott, the plant to judge if the bulb is ready for
1988). Flaming the younger plants resulted harvest. On an average, he harvests when
in damage to the onions. However, fl am- about six plant leaves are still green (Enge-
ing at a later stage was successful, though land, 1991). Some growers harvest when
too much heat damaged the onions. Flam- plants are 40 percent browned and 60 per-
ing also works best with more mature gar- cent green. Mr. Stern notes that leaf condi-
lic plants, particularly with the Porcelain
tions cannot always be an accurate indica-
cultivars, because they have vertical leaf
tor that it is time to harvest. Browning of
structure. Field conditions such as uneven
leaves may be the result of drought, dam-
ground, inconsistent tractor speed, or high
age, or disease. He recommends digging
winds can affect the degree of success with
some plants up to determine the correct
this technique. For small-scale plantings,
time to harvest (Stern, 2001). The outer
backpack flamers from construction supply
skin should be tight, the bulbs fully devel-
outlets should work well. The ATTRA Pub-
oped and well formed. Mr. Stern recom-
lication Flame Weeding for Vegetable Crops
mends digging sooner rather than later. If
has more detail on this form of cultivation.
garlic becomes too mature before harvest,
A SARE farm-based research grant in 2003 the cloves will begin to crack apart while
studied the affects of acetic acid (vinegar- still in the ground. However, if the garlic
based) herbicide for control of broadleaf is pulled at a slightly immature stage, the
leaves and grasses in garlic. The outcomes leaves, which serve as wrappers for the
demonstrated that 10 percent acetic acid vin- cloves, will continue to translocate nutri-
egar was very useful in controlling broadleaf ents to the cloves, making the crop easier to
weeds in the test plots. The vinegar provided prepare for sale.
Page 12 ATTRA Garlic: Organic Production

13. a bunch of six to eight bulbs in one
hand and spraying them with the
garden hose while rotating his wrist
so that all sides are washed. He then
lays the garlic—not bunched—on
racks in the greenhouse and off the
ground to dry overnight. The plants
are bunched the next day, and stay
bunched until he is ready to braid.
David Stern digs in the morning and
cleans in the afternoon, taking care
Some growers harvest when plants are 40 percent
not to dig more than he can clean
browned and 60 percent green. Photo courtesy of that day. Cull any diseased bulbs
Hood River Garlic. right away.
• Large bulbs are saved for planting
In small-scale plantings, garlic can be dug stock. These should not be washed,
with a garden fork. For larger acreages, sev- but hung in a covered barn or
eral tools are available for undercutting and shed to dry. Fans may be used to
harvesting garlic. Bed lifters, potato dig- increase air movement in wet years.
gers, or subsoilers can be used to loosen (California is the only place where
garlic from the soil. (These will not work if garlic is dried in the field. Growers
heavy mulch remains.) Erme, a small farm commonly lay the bulbs in the field
implement manufacturer from France, has for a few days to dry, covering the
single- and double-row garlic harvesters and bulbs of one row with the leaves of
binders. The company's contact information the next to prevent direct exposure
is listed below under Further Resources. to sunlight.)
The Garlic Seed Foundation can also provide Before garlic is stored, it must be properly
information on building your own harvesting cured or dried. According to David Stern,
equipment, or referrals to manufacturers. the garlic needs to cure/dry for at least 10
After mechanical digging, the garlic still to 14 days. The neck cells constrict and
needs to be removed from the field by hand. hold the juice in the bulb. He suggests this
Field grading should be done immediately be done with the stem and roots still on, but
to remove any damaged or diseased plants, there are many theories on this which can
a standard practice for disease prevention. vary by region and year. After a couple of
weeks they may be clipped off, leaving ¼
Sort garlic into three categories: to ½ inch of the stem and roots. When the
• Small bulbs can be cleaned for sale outer skins are dry and crispy, the garlic is
or your own kitchen. ready for storage or sale. It can be stored in
clean onion bags. Garlic will lose up to 20
• Medium-sized bulbs are cleaned in percent of its weight in the curing process.
preparation for sale. One harvesting Hood River Garlic Farm
debate involves whether or not to According to the publication Commercial cures their garlic by
wash bulbs. Ron Engeland states in Storage of Fruits and Vegetables, garlic will hanging it in bunches in
Growing Great Garlic that he doesn't keep for 6 to 7 months if it is stored at 32° their barn after the har-
vest. Photo courtesy of
want to invite mold and decay that F and at 65 to 70 percent relative humid- Hood River Garlic.
might result from having wet bulbs ity (Hardenburg et al., 1986). It is impor-
as a result of washing, and bulbs tant to keep temperature and humidity con-
grown in light soils with lots of stant. High humidity will keep the bulbs
humus clean up fairly easily. Garlic from dehydrating. A walk-in cooler should
grown in heavier soils is more diffi- make a suitable storage facility; however
cult to clean. David Stern's method many farms shut their coolers down in the
for cleaning garlic begins by holding winter. Also, any variation or fluctuation in
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 13

14. these conditions will initiate sprouting. This The cost of seed cloves plus the hand labor
can make it difficult to store garlic for long for planting and harvest makes the initial
periods of time without sprout inhibitors. A investment for garlic production high in
25-watt light bulb and a thermostat can be comparison to some other vegetable crops.
used to provide heat when needed. A fan Additional costs include land preparation
will keep air circulating. Most farmers sell and installing an irrigation system. The
their garlic as a fresh crop at farmers’ mar- enterprise budgets in Appendix 2 will
kets; very few sell over the winter, because help growers gauge what their costs and
of the difficulty associated with sprout pre- returns will be. Garlic returns are very
vention (Stern, 2007). dependent on how the crop is marketed.
The University of Kentucky Cooperative
Stored garlic should be checked monthly.
Extension bulletin on garlic production
Penicillium, or white or blue mold, is a post-
suggests that wholesale marketing of well-
harvest disease that may show up in stored
managed garlic at prices from $2.00 to
garlic. The fungus will sporulate and spread
$4.00 per pound could easily return (net)
within the confi ned conditions of storage.
from $1,400 to $3,200 per acre (see Table
For more on prevention of Penicillium see
1). An acre of well managed conventional
the Disease section of this publication.
or organic garlic that is direct marketed at
prime locations by the producer (perhaps
Marketing and Economics in braids and other forms) could return in
U.S. garlic production has doubled over excess of $5,000 per acre (CES, 2006).
each of the last two decades. No other veg- In producing value-added products such as
etable, including high flyers like onions, braids, labor needs to be accounted for in
broccoli, and carrots, has exhibited such your enterprise budget.
strong sustained growth. (Lucie and Lin,
Of the total garlic harvested in the U.S., 75
2000). Despite this sustained growth,
percent is sold wholesale for dehydration;
there has been significant global compe-
however, garlic is an excellent crop to direct
tition, mostly from the People’s Repub-
market as a local specialty (Boriss, 2006).
lic of China. As of 2004, China was the
It can be sold in a number of forms for a
dominant source of imported garlic in the
number of uses. Some fresh-market options
United States, despite the imposition of a
for garlic include wholesale markets, farm-
hefty duty tax against fresh Chinese garlic
ers’ markets, and roadside stands. Sales
imports imposed in 1994. Prior to imposi-
to local retail markets, such as supermar-
tion of the anti-dumping duties China was a
kets and specialty produce and health food
major exporter of garlic to the United States
stores, are also an option.
(Boriss, 2006), which had a significant
impact on U.S. growers. International com- Retail garlic prices vary considerably.
petition should be a serious consideration Supermarkets generally sell garlic at around
for farmers considering developing larger $2.00 per pound, while some natural foods
international markets for their garlic. grocers sell garlic for as high as $4 to $5
Table 1. Net Returns for five different yields and prices of garlic
Yield (lbs./ acre)
Price ($/lb.) 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000
$0.80 ($5,815) ($5,313) ($4,810) ($4,308) ($3,805)
$1.60 ($4,215) (2,913) (1,610) (308) 995
$2.40 ($2,615) (513) 1,590 3,692 5,795
$3.20 ($1,015) 1,887 4,790 7,692 10,595
$4.00 $585 4,287 7,990 11,692 15,395
Taken from: Garlic Production (Thomas Ford, et al., 2006). Penn State Agriculture Alternatives.
Page 14 ATTRA Garlic: Organic Production

15. per pound. Direct market prices can go as B u l bs w i th l e a v e s
high as $1.00 per bulb for specialty vari- at tached may be
eties. At the wholesale level, garlic is nor- braided, with or without
mally traded as 5-, 22-, and 30-pound dried flowers or herbs,
boxes, and 3-pound ropes and braids. To and sold as ornamental
view recent information on organic garlic edibles. Instructions for
wholesale prices see the New Farm Organic making garlic braids are
Price Index. This information is available available in the informa-
under Further Resources below. tional pamphlet titled
How to Make a Garlic
In addition to the whole bulbs, garlic can Braid, by Diane Tren-
be sold in a number of additional forms: haile, listed below under
Garlic greens are the leaves of the tender, Further Resources.
immature garlic plant grown from small Many farmers sell garlic
whole bulbs planted four inches apart in for planting stock. Plant-
the fall. They are harvested at ground level, ing stock can be sold to
bunched (2" across at base), banded, and gardeners, local farm- Braiding garlic can help increase the value of your
rinsed. The leaves need to be tender, and ers, and through the garlic crop. Photo by Yuki Yanagimoto, courtesy
approximately 8-10" tall. New leaves will Internet or mail order. of Arcosanti.
re-grow up to two additional times. Harvest Terry Browne Hixson,
season is approximately late March to late from Hood River Garlic, describes their
April in most temperate climates. In warmer decision to grow organic garlic for planting
climates this may be earlier. You can cre- stock. “Seed was not our original goal. Our
ate a value-added product by making garlic goal was to just grow garlic. But after years
greens pesto. of experience and hard work, we started
Garlic scapes (or flower stalks) should be growing garlic of superior quality. Our mar-
cut from the plant when tender, curled, kets are people who want to buy premium
and no longer than 16" total and/or 1/4" quality, certified organic seed garlic. We
in diameter. Harvesting in mid-day sun are low-volume, high-quality seed grow-
is a good cultural practice. They should ers. We love to grow our garlic and prac-
be rinsed, drained, bagged, and refrig- tice good stewardship for the land. There
erated. These are living vegetable matter are easier and less expensive ways to grow
and must not dry out or mold. Monitor- garlic, however, we choose to grow organi-
ing in storage is necessary, and yellowing cally and promote sustainable agriculture
scapes must be removed. to help our planet.” They mainly sell their
garlic via the Internet, and use advertise-
Garlic Scallions are immature plants. They ments in selected magazines.
can be grown from small cloves planted in
either fall or spring. They should be har- Terry also suggests a Garlic of the Month
vested when the plant is 12" above ground club for those who are direct marketing.
and 14" total. The entire plant is dug, outer “The Garlic of the Month Club has been a
leaf or two peeled down and off, and rinsed great market for us. It’s a great gift idea for
clean. The roots should be left on and free anyone who loves to cook, as well as the
of dirt. Pack the “scallions” for market in kitchen gardener.”
banded bunches of 6 with 12 bunches per Garlic festivals provide an excellent opportu-
poly bag or waxed and lined box. No bul- nity to market and increase consumer aware-
bing at the base is acceptable, since this ness. Almost every state has a garlic festival,
will be tough and inedible. No scallion check out the Garlic Seed Foundation Web
should be less than 3/8" in diameter. site to find one near your location.
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 15

16. Further Resources including history, varieties, soil and fertility, planting,
mulching, cultivation, pests, scape removal, harvesting
Organizations and handling, and markets. Available from the Garlic
Seed Foundation for $3.00 (free with membership).
Garlic Seed Foundation
David Stern, Director The Garlic Press. Newsletter of the Garlic
Rose Valley Farm Seed Foundation.
P.O. Box 149 Covers tours, festivals and other events, trial planting
Rose, NY 14542-0149 results, drying and production information, equipment,
315-587-9787 and other topics.
www.garlicseedfoundation.info
Created in 1984 over a love of garlic potluck suppers, Growing for Market. Edited by Lynn Byczynski.
the Garlic Seed Foundation has grown to an interna- P.O. Box 3747
tional organization of over 1,000 members, primarily Lawrence, KS 66046
centered in the Northeast U.S. Objectives have been to 785-748-0605, 800-307-8949
educate, promote, and have some fun. GSF acts as a www.growingformarket.com
clearinghouse for information and research data. Its Since 1992 this informative and practical monthly
newsletter, The Garlic Press, is published about four magazine has published the experience of the nation's
times per year. Yearly membership fee is $15.00 and direct-market farmers. All the articles are written by
includes a copy of Garlic, a cooperative report written farmers, farmers' market managers, and others directly
by Cornell University and the GSF. Also available from involved in the business of growing and selling local
the Foundation are a number of reports, fact sheets, food and flowers. Available in print and online.
videos, books, a garlic bibliography, and an annual Growing Great Garlic: The Definitive Guide for
listing of available planting stock. Mr. Stern is willing Organic Gardeners and Small Farmers. 1991. By Ron
to accept calls with specific questions.
L. Engeland. Filaree Farms, Okanogan, WA. 226 p.
The Cooperative Extension Service (CES) ISBN # 0-9630850-1-8. Available from:
www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/index.html Filaree Farms
CES in many states has bulletins on conventional, 182 Conconully Hwy.
and occasionally on organic, production of horticultural Okanogan, WA 98840
crops. To find the Cooperative Extension Office closest to 509-422-6940
you go to their Web site and click on your state. If you E-mail: info@filareefarm.com
are unable to access the Internet, call the ATTRA infor- www.filareefarm.com
mation line at 1-800-346-9140 and we will provide this This book covers the history and evolution of garlic,
information for you. site and soil preparation, harvest, curing, and stor-
age. It tells which strains to plant, when and how to
Publications plant, when to fertilize (and when not to fertilize), when
Compendium of Onion and Garlic Diseases and Pests. to prune flower stalks, when to harvest, plus how to
2007. Edited by H. F. Schwartz and S. K. Mohan. store, market and process the crop. The author provides
APS Press, St. Paul, MN. updated information on varieties in a 1995 supplement.
A comprehensive compendium on garlic and onion How to Make A Garlic Braid. 1995.
diseases. By Diane Trenhaile. Clove Publications, Inc.
Diseases of Vegetable Crops. 1952. By John C. Available from Filaree Farms, above.
Walker. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, NY. 529 p. This 12-page booklet, complete with clear photographs
Library of Congress card # 51-12826. and drawings and detailed instructions, leads the
Contains a 37-page chapter on allium diseases. Suggests reader step-by-step through the braiding process.
many organically acceptable cultural control options. Onion, Garlic, Leeks, and Shallots. 1986. By Arden
Garlic. Report # 387. 1990. By Roger Kline and the Sherf and Alan MacNab. p. 432-470. In: Vegetable
Garlic Seed Foundation. Cornell University and the Diseases and Their Control. 2nd ed. John Wiley and
Garlic Seed Foundation, Rose, NY. 10 p. Sons, New York, NY.
Covers a broad range of garlic production information Chapter covers life cycle and control options for
Page 16 ATTRA Garlic: Organic Production

17. bacterial soft rots, onion smut, downy mildew, white References
rot and a number of other allium diseases.
Onions and Leeks. 1992. By R.W. Straub and B. Boriss, Haylee. January 2006. Commodity Profi le:
Emmett. p. 235-249. In: McKinlay, Roderick G. (ed.). Garlic. Agriculture Marketing Resource Center.
Vegetable Crop Pests. CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, http://aic.ucdavis.edu/profiles/Garlic-2006B.pdf
FL. ISBN # 0-8493-7729-3. Brunt, A., K. Crabtree, M. Dallwitz, A. Gibbs, and
Chapter covers life cycles and management options for L. Watson (1996). Viruses of Plants: Descriptions and
thrips, moths, flies and nematode pests of onions, leeks Lists from the VIDE Database. 1484 pp. C.A.B.
and other alliums. International, U.K.
Soil Solarization: A Non-Pesticide Method for Cooperative Extension Service (CES). 2006 (revised).
Controlling Diseases, Nematodes, and Weeds. 1997. Garlic and Elephant Garlic. University of Kentucky
By G.S. Pullman et al. Leaflet 21377. Cooperative Cooperative Extension. New Crops Opportunities Center.
Extension Service, University of California. 13 p. www.uky.edu/Ag/NewCrops/introsheets/garlic.pdf
Available for $5.00 postage paid from:
ANR Publications Coviello, R. L. Updated 2007. UC IPM Pest
University of California Management Guidelines: Onion and Garlic—Insects
6701 San Pablo Avenue section. UC ANR Publication 3453. Statewide IPM
Oakland, CA 94608-1239 Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources,
510-642-2431 University of California. http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/
http://ANRcatalog.ucdavis.edu OtherVegetables/3453.aspx
Davidson, Ralph H. and William F. Lyon. 1987.
Regional publications Insect Pests of Farm, Garden, and Orchard. 7th ed.
Garlic. 1995. Ronald Voss. University of California John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY. p. 305.
Small Farm Center.
Davis, R.M. et al. Updated 2007. UC IPM Pest
Garlic and Elephant Garlic. 2006. University of Management Guidelines: Onion and Garlic—Diseases
Kentucky Cooperative Extension. New Crops section. UC ANR Publication 3453. Statewide IPM
Opportunities Center. www.uky.edu/Ag/NewCrops/ Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources,
introsheets/garlic.pdf University of California. http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/
Garlic Production. 2006. Thomas Ford et al. OtherVegetables/3453.aspx
Penn State Agriculture Alternatives. Desvaux, R. and P. Ott. 1988. Introduction of thermic
The Pennsylvania State University. weed control in southeastern France. In: Patricia Allen
and Debra Van Dusen (eds.) Perspectives on Agroecol-
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