[thestens]

I bought some garlic from  RealGarlic( I think that was the name) and it has done really well - there is a bit of rust but all the bulbs look fine. I have about 20 so I want to keep some for replanting Oct/Nov are there any tips or do I just dry them out and keep them in a paper bag in a dark dry place ( the garage).

[Sparkyrog]

If they have rust I would replace them with new.

[compostqueen]

I eat all mine so I buy new every year

[Trillium]

If there was no trace at all of rust, you'd be safe to save and replant some of your bulbs. But since you have disease already, there's little point propagating the disease, which is what you'd be doing by using the same bulbs.

Better to bite the bullet and buy clean new bulbs until your problem goes away.

[FarmerGeddun]

I personally wouldn't put any plant that has any disease back into the ground.  Better to be safe than sorry.

[Annen]

I have this year, used saved garlic that had rust on last year, and it seems okay, no rust this year.  It hadn't occurred to me not to use it, because the rust was on the leaves, but the cloves seemed to be unaffected.

[crh75]

The website http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r584101211.html says

The fungus probably overwinters on garlic and volunteer Allium crops.

[arugula]

The website http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r584101211.html says

The fungus probably overwinters on garlic and volunteer Allium crops.

Or leeks still in the ground nearby.

[JohnB47]

I've had rust on my garlic in the four years I've grown them, always from new stock. It has never effected the plant, apart from appearance. So what's the big worry about rust on garlic?

[arugula]

It can affect your yield quite significantly and it may not store as well.

[Annen]

I was thinking about putting my leeks in the bed where the garlic is but I think not now, kale and pak choi gong in there instead!


But to add to the debate, the bed my rusty garlic were in last has onions in, growing well, and no rust so far.


Also, probably nothing to do with rust, I have this afternoon dug up 3 garlic bulbs and, strangely, none of the three have cloves, they are just one solid bulb. I suppose it will save all that peeling!

[Sparkyrog]

Annen Is that elephant garlic ?

[Annen]

Annen Is that elephant garlic ?

No just ordinary garlic.  Three years ago it was Solent Wight

[DD.]

Elephant garlic isn't garlic anyway! 

[FarmerGeddun]

I have this afternoon dug up 3 garlic bulbs and, strangely, none of the three have cloves, they are just one solid bulb. I suppose it will save all that peeling!

Did they miss the big freeze in winter then?