Garlic mustard is a very invasive weed. The roots exude a chemical that is inhibit other plants from growing, and it can grow in full sun or full shade, making it a threat to a wide variety of our native plants and habitats. Each plant can produce up to 5000 seeds which remain viable in the soil for five years or more. Good to read: garlic mustard weed.
Garlic mustard has become Portland's poster child for plants that overwhelm the landscape by seeding: a single plant can make hundreds of small seeds. In addition, the roots of garlic mustard are thought to produce a toxin that kills soil fungi many plants depend on. Our post about garlic mustard.
Garlic mustard has been reported to be invasive in natural areas throughout the northeastern U.S. and in scattered localities in the Midwest, Southeast, western states, and Alaska.
Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is a member of the Brassicaceae, or mustard family. This invasive plant's native range is located in Europe and was introduced into the U.S. in 1868 where it was observed on Long Island, NY and later escaped. Garlic mustard is a herbaceous plant that is biennial.
The best way to get rid of garlic mustard is manually, i.e. pulling it up and discarding it. You should strive to pull up the plants before they set seed because the action of yanking the plant from the ground will spread the seed. I recommend waiting until after it rains to start removing it.
Garlic mustard, a Class A noxious weed, is a biennial or winter annual herb that generally grows 2-3 (up to 6) feet tall. This weed spreads by seed and can self-pollinate, helping it rapidly displace native plants along trails, in forests, and on riverbanks, among other areas.
Repeatedly hand pulling of garlic mustard is reported to be effective for control in small areas but has limitations. Because seeds remain viable in the soil for up to 10 years, it is important to pull all garlic mustard plants in an area every year until the seed bank is exhausted and seedlings no longer appear.
One note about garlic mustard edibility, though the mature leaves and stems are very bitter and contain high amounts of cyanide. Older plant material should be thoroughly cooked before eating.
The plantcan also produce harmful chemicals, which are capable of destroying fungi that are known to aid in the growth of other plants. Garlic mustard is capable of producing glucosinolates, a known class of chemicals that are toxic to humans and animals.
To prevent spreading, do not mow garlic mustard when seed pods are present (May-September). Revisit pulled sites as often as possible to re-pull plants that sprout from left behind root fragments. This especially important later in the spring as seeds develop.
Wild mustard is highly invasive, and may be poisonous to livestock. Wild mustard is considered a noxious weed in many states. Wild mustard can be a serious weed problem in spring cereals.
Populations of garlic mustard can really explode, says Jeffrey Corbin, a plant ecologist at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. The species has been spreading haltingly throughout the country since the late 1800s, when it was deliberately introduced to Long Island from its native Europe.
Garlic mustard is highest amongst all leafy green vegetables in Fiber; Vitamin A; B-Carotene; Vitamin E; Vitamin C; Calcium; Iron; Zinc; and Manganese. Garlic mustard also scores very high in Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Copper. Personally, I find that the nutritional value of garlic mustard is quite amazing.
Garlic: This plant is extremely toxic for your dog in large doses, which can lead to such symptoms as vomiting, a breakdown of red blood cells, blood in urine, weakness, panting, and fast heart rate.
Groundcovers: plants that cover an area densely and low-to-the-ground, giving you a better chance of targeting garlic mustard. Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) does a great job of covering a shady area with its wide, thick leaves. It sticks very close to the ground, making it easy to plant other taller plants into it.
Populations of garlic mustard can spread rapidly. In a study of high quality woodlots, i.e. typically old growth or undisturbed forest habitat in Illinois, garlic mustard advanced an average of about 20 feet per year, expanding as much as 120 feet in one year.
Garlic mustard contains cyanide. Many of our cultivated vegetables, including broccoli and broccoli rabe (both related to garlic mustard) also have trace amounts of cyanide. Young plants, with their mild mustard-garlic flavor, can be used raw in salads.
Yes, there are garlic mustard lookalikes, but it depends on the current form of the plant. In its low-growing rosette form, garlic mustard looks like these common plants: fringecup (Tellima grandiflora) look for hairy leaves and stems.
In addition, invertebrates and other consumers that rely on these natural plant species for food are harmed by the spread of this invasive "weed". Garlic mustard also produces root exudates that inhibit the growth of important soil fungi and leaf chemicals that kill native butterfly larvae that feed on the plant.
QUICK GARLIC MUSTARD SAUTECover pan on low heat for 5 minutes. Remove cover and add a dash of balsamic vinegar. collapsed. Seed pods and flowers, eaten raw, are a pungent addition to salads.