Yellow/Pale Green Leaves on Garlic Plants

Question

I a have about 5000 garlic bulbs planted into new soil, which had a not very successful green manure grown on it and then dug in. When beds were made, they had blue rock dust, our compost, and 1 liter blood and bone per 20 mt added. The outer leaves are yellow and flaccid; the newer leaves are a pale yellow/green color, and when you look closely they have mottled yellow on a pale green background. I have some garlic growing elsewhere, which has dark green leaves and are all standing up straight. If the problem is a lack of nitrogen, how do I add it to a growing crop in a certified organic way? I am in the process of biodynamic certification.

Answer 1

It may be suffering from an iron deficiency. This commonly causes this kind of coloration. This normally happens either when the plant is watered too much and the nutrients get leeched away or if the pH is too high. Test the soil and correct any nutrient and pH issues found when testing. Also, make sure that the soil is not too porous and is letting the water run away too quickly.