Garlic Pests and Problems: What to Watch For and How to Win

Garlic has a reputation for being low-maintenance, rugged, and generally unbothered by garden drama. But even garlic has its enemies—and they don’t wear capes. They wear slime, spores, and tiny mandibles. If you’ve ever pulled up a bulb that looked more like a sad sponge than a proud clove cluster, you know the heartbreak. But fear not: with a little vigilance and a few tricks, you can outsmart garlic’s most notorious pests and problems.

Let’s start with the garlic nemesis that sounds like a cartoon villain: the onion maggot. These tiny white larvae burrow into garlic bulbs and feast like they’re at an allium buffet. You’ll know they’ve arrived when your plants suddenly wilt or collapse, and your bulbs look like Swiss cheese. The best defense? Crop rotation. Don’t plant garlic (or onions) in the same spot two years in a row. Use floating row covers early in the season to block egg-laying flies, and consider beneficial nematodes if things get out of hand. Garlic may be spicy, but onion maggots don’t care—they’re here for the buffet.

Next up: white rot. Sounds elegant, right? It’s not. This fungal disease turns roots to mush and bulbs to sadness. It thrives in cool, moist soil and can linger for years. If you see yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and a fuzzy white fungus at the base, it’s time to act. Sadly, there’s no cure once it hits—so prevention is key. Rotate crops, avoid overwatering, and never plant infected cloves. If you’re dealing with a known outbreak, solarize the soil (cover it with clear plastic during hot months) to cook the fungus into submission.

Then there’s rust, the orange speckled menace. Garlic rust shows up as tiny orange pustules on leaves, making your plants look like they’ve come down with a bad rash. It’s mostly cosmetic, but it can reduce bulb size if severe. Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and remove infected leaves. If you’re feeling proactive, a neem oil spray can help keep rust in check without nuking your garden ecosystem.

Thrips are another garlic annoyance. These tiny insects suck the life out of leaves, leaving them silvery and distorted. They’re hard to spot but easy to annoy. Blast them off with a strong spray of water, or use insecticidal soap if they’re persistent. Garlic doesn’t like drama, and thrips bring plenty.

And let’s not forget the classic rot—the catch-all term for mushy, discolored bulbs that smell like regret. Rot usually comes from poor drainage, overwatering, or planting in soggy soil. Raised beds, proper spacing, and mulch management are your best friends here. Garlic wants moisture, not a mud bath.

Now, for the good news: garlic is naturally resistant to many pests. Its pungent oils repel deer, rabbits, and even some insects. But that doesn’t mean you can slack off. Regular inspections, smart planting practices, and clean tools go a long way. And if you’re saving seed garlic, only choose healthy, disease-free bulbs. Don’t pass problems into next season.

In short, garlic problems are manageable—if you catch them early and act decisively. Think of yourself as garlic’s bodyguard: vigilant, informed, and slightly obsessed with soil conditions. With the right moves, you’ll keep your bulbs safe, your harvest strong, and your garlic patch drama-free.