rust on my garlic.

[weeclop]

i am gutted all my garlic is covered in rust. i have looked on the vine for help but i dont think there is anything i can do to help them. they are planted next to my onions and i dont want it to spread to them so should i just pull them up? if i leave them will it harm the cloves?. hope you can give me advice
colin

[Hazel at the Hill]

I'd ignore it - I get rust on my garlic most years (not yet this year, having said that) and it never does them any harm.

[Shadylane]

Step away from the garlic. Nooo don't pull it up - our leeks and garlic and all our weeds were covered in rust last year, still got a fab crop. You can't really avoid it once it's in the soil although I would have thought it was a) a bit early and b) a bit dry. Are you sure it's rust? Also one thing I learned from the vine last year was that the weed groundsel (google image it) is a magnet for rust. I left loads of them unweeded last year and they were all very rusty.

[Rabidbun]

Am going to try spraying gin on it this year before it takes hold. Last year I got it Really badly on my leeks but only moderately on the outside leaves fn my garlic (I planted the garlic in the same bed this year). The bulbs were indistinguishable from the ones that didn't have rust as far as storage goes.

[always digging]

i get rust most years on mine doesnt do them any harm and doesnt affect the taste

[Paulottie]

This is the best year that I have had ...hardly any rust at all.

I disagree that it does no harm...really reduces vigour of plant; but it is difficult to avoid. so just try and reduce and live with it.

Usual advice is to burn rather than compost any waste...but as pointed out several weeds get it. As an widespread and airborne fungal problem ....I am not sure if this really makes any impact.

One estranged grape used to recommend...believe it or not...a garlic spray. Don't know the commercial name. I don't know about giving them my Mother's ruin though!....surely better to get some tonic have a stiff gin yourself...seems to stop me worrying about things.

[gojiberry]

Good year for lack of rust for me as well. My leeks are usually badly hit but had none this year and the garlic is trouble free as well. Has never affected the quality of harvest. Rust can be brought on by planting to close.

Ian