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Hardneck garlic leaf problem #872142

Asked June 07, 2024, 9:01 PM EDT

Hello! It's my first time growing garlic and over the last week I've had some weird stuff pop up on the leaves, and am wondering if its a disease or pest issue. It's a hardneck variety called music. Up until about 7-10 days ago all the leaves were solid dark green. I will add pictures of the weird stuff I'm seeing. Yellowing in weird patterns and white spots/stripes that progress to open holes on the center of the leaf surfaces.

St. Clair County Michigan

Expert Response

Hi Juliet, thanks for the question.

There are a few things that 

Yellow streaking and speckling on garlic leaves can be caused by several factors. Water issues both over and underwatering can cause streaking.  Good drainage is important. Nutrient deficiencies could also be an issue:  A recent or new soil test (Home | MSU Soil Test) can help sort this out. Nutrient Pests and Diseases: Pests like nematodes, thrips, and aphids, as well as fungal diseases such as white rot and downy mildew, can cause yellowing and other damage to garlic plants1. Other items like poor air circulation and other stress factors may cause some problems.  Pest and diseases can be a part of the puzzle.  The various potyviruses can definitely be a factor and could affect yield.  Crop rotation, cleaning up plant debris, heathy cloves can help prevent further problems.  The gray/white streak could be the allium leaf miner (not sure about that).  Early harvest of these may be warranted.  Dig one up and look for possible insects, in the leaves and bulb.  Let me know it you find something and we can figure out how to prevent further issues. Check out the following links:

Be on the lookout for allium leafminer in your spring onions, garlic, or leeks | Virginia Ag Pest and Crop Advisory (vt.edu)

Garlic - POTY Virus Signs & Symptoms - Cooperative Extension: Insect Pests, Ticks and Plant Diseases - University of Maine Cooperative Extension (umaine.edu)

I hope this is helpful.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 10, 2024, 1:38 PM EDT

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