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Withered garlic stems
Garlic diseases can be caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and they can be spread through the soil, water, air, infected tools, animals, and even gardeners themselves.
Check your garlic plants for symptoms early and often, so you can treat plants before they are destroyed by disease and successfully manage symptoms. Here is a three-step approach to keeping vigilant:
- Research the risks. Research garlic diseases that are prevalent in your geographic area. When possible, buy disease-resistant seed garlic, usually these are cloves that have been heat-treated before sale.
- Examine daily. Check your plants daily to be sure no disease symptoms are present or emerging.
- Spot diseases early. Catch and treat diseases quickly, so your plants can recover and thrive.
Garlic diseases can affect the leaves, stems, or bulbs of the plants. Here are possible disease symptoms to look for to spot potential infection.
Leaves:
- White powdery mildew or spots
- Yellowed foliage
- Curled leaves
Stems:
- Yellowed or soft stems
- Stunted growth
Bulbs:
- Swelling
- Rot or softness
Garlic with white rot
Common Garlic Diseases
Garlic is fairly resistant to diseases, but there are some that you should be aware of.
White Rot
Cause: Fungus
Symptoms:
- Stunted growth
- Early yellowing and death of outer leaves
- Death of the remaining leaves and stem
- Spots of white rot around base
How it spreads:
- Seed garlic
Treatment:
- Fungicide: tebuconazole, fludioxonil, and boscalid
Prevention:
- Buy seed garlic from reputable suppliers
- Apply a fungicide to soil before planting
Downy Mildew
Cause: Fungus
Symptoms:
- Whitish, furry growth on the leaves
- Yellow leaves
- Dying young plants
- Stunted growth of older plants.
How it spreads:
- Sprinkler irrigation
Treatment:
- Removal of infected plants and fungicide is the only treatment
Prevention:
- Plant garlic with adequate space between them
- Don’t overwater, and avoid sprinkler irrigation
- Avoid moist soil
- Apply a fungicide to soil before planting
Have you experienced any of these diseases with your garlic plants? Have you tried any of our remedies? Or do you have some of your own tips for treating and avoiding garlic plant diseases? Please share your ideas in the comments below.
