[stooby doo]

Hi,

whilst I was on holiday last week a friend who was keeping an eye on my allotment for me removed all the leaves from my garlic.

He did this as they got rust and he was told by a plot neighbour to remove the leaves to prevent it spreading to my leeks.

I've dug up a couple of bulbs and they are quite small with no real defined cloves. 

Are they likely to grow anymore if I leave them in or should I just dig them up?

Thanks,

Stooby.

[JayG]

No leaves = no more growth = don't let your friend talk to your plot neighbour again! 

(If the rust was really bad they probably wouldn't have grown much more anyway.)

[stooby doo]

Thanks Jay - thought as much unfortunately.

[sunshineband]

I had to cut the leaves off mine for the same reason, and the bulbs are still small.

Next year I shall only grow overwintering garlic, as I have had less of a rust problem with them

[DD.]

This is a perennial problem.

If you look at the RHS fact sheet, it says to dispose of plant debris AFTER cropping.

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=214