Rusty Garlic

[KeithR]

Hi all,

A little while since I posted anything but I hope someone out there can help. In the last week all the leaves on my garlic have developed what looks like a serious attack of rust. They are covered in millions of minute red spots with some that are black. They were not like that last week when I watered them.
I have looked through all my gardening books but they do not mention anything about garlic being susceptible to rust attack.

I have a couple of questions.

1) Might it be something other than rust?
2) How do I treat it now and to prevent it happening next year?
3)  Is it going to effect the bulbs as they are just starting to plump up?

Any help would be much appreciated.

KeithR

[KeithR]

[sandersj89]

I have a couple of questions.

1) Might it be something other than rust?
2) How do I treat it now and to prevent it happening next year?
3)  Is it going to effect the bulbs as they are just starting to plump up?

I bet it is rust, mine were covered in it this year as were others.

Rust is a fungal problem so fungicides can work but it does not do any real harm to the bulb, it does not seem to effect the keeping quality or the yield to any great extent.

Prevention is not easy, especially if there is a reservoir of the disease around you on other plots/gardens. The RHS suggests planting over a wider area to allow decent air circulation.

HTH

Jerry

[Icyberjunkie]

Also make sure you do not compost the leaves.  Cut them off the bulb and burn or bin them.

Iain

[Moggle]

Does anyone know if rust can affect Broad Beans? Had rust on Garlic, and now looks like rust on broad beans ???

[jennym]

Should be a different rust. Garlic rust is called Puccinia allii. I think the rust on broad beans is called Uromyces viciae fabae, so they are two different things - but like the same conditions, i.e. humid conditions, poor air circulation.

[Moggle]

Cheers Jennym!

The broadies are looking pretty sad all in all what with the rust and the lack of water, I may just cut them down and be done with them for this year. Must look broad bean rust up in the HDRA bible too.