We strongly urge anyone interested in growing garlic to only buy from a grower that has had their garlic tested for Bloat Nematode and understands the basics of how Bloat Nematode is acquired and spread. Plum Creek Garlic gets tested every year by the University of Minnesota Plant Disease Clinic. We tested negative for 2024 and you can see our 2024 results by clicking here.
Planting infected cloves from diseased bulbs is the most common way to get Garlic Bloat Nematode. This nematode is a serious pest and can spread leaf-to-leaf and via water or soil movement. Once established in a particular location it can be difficult to eradicate. This microscopic animal has been devastating garlic fields in the East and has been found in the Midwest increasingly often unfortunately.
For pictures and a description from the University of Minnesota click here. Dr. Eric Sideman from Maine has a nice one page summary along with some suggested treatments which you can read here.