[Dominic]

When does the whte papery bit on garlic appear?
I've harvested what I assumed to be my three smallest garlic, and they're huge, but they just have the red cover, this happened last time as well.
What causes the other one to appear?

Is it too early to plant next years now?  I was thinking of getting them in end of august, just dig em out, break em up and replant them.

[barbarella]

I harvested my garlic in June - they didn't look papery but after laying them on newspaper to dry indoors for a week or so and then tidying them up for plaiting they were papery on the outside just the supermarket ones.

Last year I planted my garlic on 7 October.  I would always buy fresh to avoid disease (although mine did get rust this year - it didn't affect the crop)  Are you planting supermarket garlic?  This is from the Mediterranean area and doesn't always suit our climate.  I get mine from The Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight (mail order) which is specifically bred for the UK  They have got a new variety this year, Picardy Wight,  which is supposed to store until the following May so I will be trying that . 

[Dominic]

I thought it might be when they dry after I'd posted, thanks for the confirmation.

Yeah it Supermarket, Tesco Market Value to be exact.  I find it grows brilliantly, well, This is my second lot really, so dont have a lot of experience, but it seems to do well enough.

I was going to plant it in a different spot this year, is it still a disease risk?

[barbarella]

There is a thread somewhere on this forum on rust.  I think it affects  leeks as well so best to keep the garlic away from them as a lot people seem to get rust on their garlic, but the consensus is it does not affect the garlic.  Leeks might be a different matter as you eat that bit. 

[Trillium]

When does the whte papery bit on garlic appear?
I've harvested what I assumed to be my three smallest garlic, and they're huge, but they just have the red cover, this happened last time as well.
What causes the other one to appear?

Is it too early to plant next years now?  I was thinking of getting them in end of august, just dig em out, break em up and replant them.

The red cover develops from something in your soil, which is not at all harmful, just the way it is. In France, red garlic is prized. The papery cover, as said, happens when the bulbs outer skin dries up properly (cures).

As for planting time, its too soon to turn around and plant the same bulbs. give them a short rest and plant out in late September or October for next year's crop. And yes, as garlic is part of the onion family, is is susceptible to all the onion diseases, including rot.