Pest identification
What's eating my rocambole garlic?
Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci)
Signs: Silver-white streaking and stippling on leaves; heavy infestations cause leaf distortion and browning
Control: Apply spinosad or insecticidal soap; remove heavily infested tops; avoid overhead watering which spreads thrips
Allium leaf miner (Phytomyza gymnostoma)
Signs: White stippled punctures on leaves followed by tunneling maggots inside foliage and stems
Control: Use fine mesh row covers from planting until harvest; remove and destroy affected plants; no effective chemical control once inside
Bulb mites (Rhizoglyphus echinopus)
Signs: Soft, rotting bulbs at harvest; stunted plants; visible white mites in soil around bulb base
Control: Plant in well-drained soil; rotate alliums every 3 years; discard infected bulbs; soak seed garlic in hot water (120°F/49°C) before planting
Aphids (Myzus persicae and others)
Signs: Curled, yellowing leaf tips with sticky honeydew and sooty mold on foliage
Control: Blast off with a strong water jet; introduce ladybugs or lacewings; apply neem oil as a preventive
Keep rocambole garlic pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Rocambole Garlic pests — FAQ
What is eating my rocambole garlic?
Rocambole garlic faces its toughest battle against onion thrips and allium leaf miner, which scar and tunnel foliage. Leek moth, aphids, and bulb mites also attack. In gardens, rabbits and deer largely avoid strong allium scent. Remove infested leaves promptly and use row covers early in the season.
How do I get rid of onion thrips (thrips tabaci) on rocambole garlic?
Silver-white streaking and stippling on leaves; heavy infestations cause leaf distortion and browning Apply spinosad or insecticidal soap; remove heavily infested tops; avoid overhead watering which spreads thrips
How do I get rid of allium leaf miner (phytomyza gymnostoma) on rocambole garlic?
White stippled punctures on leaves followed by tunneling maggots inside foliage and stems Use fine mesh row covers from planting until harvest; remove and destroy affected plants; no effective chemical control once inside
How do I get rid of bulb mites (rhizoglyphus echinopus) on rocambole garlic?
Soft, rotting bulbs at harvest; stunted plants; visible white mites in soil around bulb base Plant in well-drained soil; rotate alliums every 3 years; discard infected bulbs; soak seed garlic in hot water (120°F/49°C) before planting
How do I get rid of aphids (myzus persicae and others) on rocambole garlic?
Curled, yellowing leaf tips with sticky honeydew and sooty mold on foliage Blast off with a strong water jet; introduce ladybugs or lacewings; apply neem oil as a preventive