Poor poor garlic

[glut]

I planted 3 types of bulb from a garlic farm last November. I pulled one up today to see how it was getting on and found it slimy with little white worms on it Obviously not a good sign so I pulled them all up and have put them out to dry. My questions are:

Is this just unlucky or did I cause it?
Are they edible if they dry out or do I just need to burn them?
What can I plant in the place they were?
Are the onions in the same bed going to go the same way?

[rustylady]

Sounds like onion fly - check out this site Onion Problems and Diseases - from Allotment Vegetable Growing Advice and Guides

[zazen999]

I think all my onions are going under fleece next year; this onion fly is getting far too close for comfort.

I'd give them a good wash before letting them dry; were the worms on or in the garlic bulbs [had they made holes or were they just on the outside]?

[rana]

I have had damage from onion fly where the little grubs have burrowed small holes through the side of the onion bulbs. I treat them exactly the same as un-damaged onions, drying and hanging as normal but just use them up first. When I get hold of the grubs I drop them into the fish tank - a tasty onion flavoured treat for my greedy little fish.

Not noticed them on the garlic yet.

[esrikandan]

My onions were badly affected too. Noticed the problem when the leaves started wilting. In the end I lifted all the onions as I'd rather enjoy a few smaller onions than none at all. The onions from seed were less affected than the ones from sets but all got infected to an extent.

I've kept the least damaged ones and as per Rana will use thpse first - a little more chopping to remove the bad bits but still better than shop bought.

[LottieGlut]

We've had a dose of onion eelfly on my allotment this year. The onions go slimy, split and get misshapen. Some people have lost their whole crop. I've now pulled up all my overwintering onions and garlic. They are not that attractive, but I've pulled off the worse damage and at the moment they are drying off in the green house. I'm not sure how they are going to store though.

The onions I have eaten have tasted fine.

Apparently the eelfly can get into the soil. I've been told to grow my potatoes there next year to try to get rid of it.

[glut]

hmmmm perversely there is some solace in not being alone with my slimy produce. I will think carefully about what to plant there next and try and dry and salvage what I've pulled up. Thanks.

[toastie]

Have lost all our onions to alium leaf miner but, thankfully, the garlic survived (and they're absolutely huge and drying out as we speak). Used some of the smaller ones as 'green' garlic.