I dug up my first garlic today and although it's a decent size the base is covered in white rot. Can I still use it? When I peeled off the outside layer it looks fine. Also, is it inevitable that the rest of my garlic and the neighbouring onions will be infected, and if so, should I dig them all up straight away?
Quotethe base is covered in white rot. Can I still use it? When I peeled off the outside layer it looks fine.
Garlic grows in a different fashion to onions i.e. the cloves grow on a base plate and it is this that might be affected.
It would seem from what you describe the cloves might be OK.
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Also, is it inevitable that the rest of my garlic and the neighbouring onions will be infected, and if so, should I dig them all up straight away?
Garlic; Quite possible
Neighbouring Onions; Depends on how close they are to the garlic.
Lift one and see what you find.
Lifting?; Garlic Yes Onions subject to what you find!
They're usable if they're not entirely rotten, but you have to be quick before they rot away!