[over-grown]

I've got a fantastic crop of garlic, all with good sized bulbs (San Marco and Germidor). Leaves, though, covered in rust. Should I dry the whole plant, leaves and bulbs, or should I cut the leaves off and only dry the bulbs?

[Trillium]

I believe the rust can creep into the bulb so if they were mine, I'd cut the leaves to just below the point of rust infection and let the rest dry out. Bag and bin the rusty leaves. As for the dried bulbs, keep checking them all winter in case the infection got in deeper than expected.

[Greengirl]

My garlic had terrible rust last year. I dried the plants (leaves & all) & the bulbs stored well & were fine .

[vineweevil1]

Can I just but in on this topic please.  Firstly great question as I was wondering the same. If I dry with leaves intact, I was going to dry them in the greenhouse as I don't get to the plot often enough to take them in if it rains - so will the rust spread to anything in my greenhouse?

[Trillium]

Anything is possible so decide if you want to chance it. I wouldn't.  A better bet is to hang them in a shed or garage if you have one, or the airing cupboard or cellar.

[Kristen]

They might "cook" in the greenhouse (unless you have automatic ventilation I suppose?)

[Greengirl]

That's where I dry mine - the only problem is the strong smell of garlic when you enter the greenhouse. I think that garlic rust is probably specific to members of the onion (allium) family, so shouldn't attack anything else. I grow toms, grapes, aubergines, peppers, chillis in mine & there were no other outbreaks of rust, nor were there in my spring sown leek & onion seedlings. I do clean out my greenhouse well in the autumn though. The choice is yours.