Ash is a useful and affordable means for fertilizing and protecting plants from pests and diseases.
However, not all plants react to ash in the same way.
Some of them, such as garlic, may be harmed by its use.
Why does this happen?
The thing is that ash increases the acidity of the soil, making it alkaline. And garlic prefers acidic or neutral soil.
If you sprinkle ash into the holes when planting garlic, you risk disrupting its growth and development, as well as causing various diseases.
What diseases can garlic develop due to ash? The most common is root or stem rot. It appears as black or brown spots on the plant, which gradually spread and lead to the death of the garlic. Ash can also contribute to the development of a bacterial or fungal infection that affects the bulbs and leaves of garlic.
How to avoid these problems
It is best not to use ash when planting garlic at all. If you want to feed garlic, choose other organic fertilizers, such as compost, humus or peat. They do not increase the acidity of the soil and enrich it with useful substances.
If you have already used ash when planting garlic and noticed signs of disease, you need to take immediate action. You should dig up the diseased plants and destroy them so as not to infect the rest.
You should also treat the soil with a disinfectant, such as potassium permanganate or copper sulfate. After that, you can plant new garlic or other crops.
So, ash is a good way to care for plants, but not for everyone. Garlic does not like ash and can get sick from it. Therefore, it is better to choose other methods of feeding and protecting garlic to get a good harvest and maintain its health.
