posted
for the last two seasons my maincrop onions have developed a grey mould which ends up killing of the infected leafs,this also stops the growth of the bulb so i tend to only get them to reach two thirds of there full size! im not the only one who gets it everyone on the allotment gets it at the same time. any ideas???
* * * * Mark Plants: 7132 | From: essex england | Registered: Jan 2006
| Seeded: 213.107.224.24
posted
Where is essex? YOur climate may be the main factor. If you are in the U.S., every county nationwide has County Extension Services where they keep abreast of all local problems, and their service is free. I don't know about the U.K. or Canada, but I suspect they have similar services.
* * * * Dave Even my growlights are getting restless! Plants: 2290 | From: norman, ok | Registered: Apr 2005
| Seeded: 69.30.170.166
posted
essex is s.e england, we dont have anything like you mentioned here. ive been back in me books and found a chemical that might work just got to find it now! rather have a more organic solution though
* * * * Mark Plants: 7132 | From: essex england | Registered: Jan 2006
| Seeded: 213.107.224.24
posted
Try spraying with baking soda. Fungi generally prefer acid conditions and baking soda is alkaline. It may help stop the spread of fungus problems you already have, but it's best when you spray it as a preventive before the fungi gains a foothold. Seaweed foliar sprays or compost teas are also beneficial. I believe you use 1 tablespoon baking soda per gallon of water, but I'm not at home, so I can't verify that.
* * * * Terry
May the force be with you Plants: 1370 | From: Copper Hill, Virginia | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 204.60.38.29
posted
Essex is where the Romans used to grow saffron crocuses. LOL.
Anyway I think my fungal problems on onions have been due to planting them too deep and too close together. Gardens Alive has a product for onion neck rot but I don't know if that is exactly what you have. I have found that once an area is really fungusy fungal sprays only work nominally.
posted
not sure about the romans, but the local council have planted thousands! must be trying to keep up with them. they left plenty of under me allotment too, cant dig to deep dont know what i"ll find?... thats the romans not the council neck rot isnt a problem yet
* * * * Mark Plants: 7132 | From: essex england | Registered: Jan 2006
| Seeded: 213.107.224.24
posted
it looks more grey like the 3rd picture, but by description it sounds like downy mildew to me, great to see it on a page like that, its better than my books! its a great help. be going back there again to see more,,, thanks
* * * * Mark Plants: 7132 | From: essex england | Registered: Jan 2006
| Seeded: 213.107.224.24
I have been known to substitute regular vegetable oil (canola) for the horticultural oil. I save oil I've used to fry fish etc. specifically for this purpose. The oil helps the baking soda stick to the plants.
* * * * Terry
May the force be with you Plants: 1370 | From: Copper Hill, Virginia | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 207.69.139.139
posted
I would spray it as a preventative every week or so. You could also use a foliar fertilizer in place of the water--seaweed, compost tea etc. Both of those examples also act against fungi.
* * * * Terry
May the force be with you Plants: 1370 | From: Copper Hill, Virginia | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 207.69.137.14
posted
Hi Markr, A spray of Jeyes Fluid may help,but first go to Robinson &Son Preston Lanc info@mammothonion.co.uk they have information about Problem Solving and Cultivation of onions. Not sure if it was this compony that grew the 16lb onion.They answered me some questions last year. Dave(used to live in Staffs)
Plants: 77 | From: n of cobourg ontario | Registered: Aug 2003
| Seeded: 206.172.225.72
posted
This past fall I bought 50 lbs of onion and split it with my MIL. Normally they keep well through the winter, but with this batch, it's not so great, almost every onion bulb has this grayish or black powder on the skins, and when they are peeled, they are going bad inside. Over here in Canada, our summer was very wet, so I guess we can attribute the mouldy onions to that. Good luck in fixing the problem with yours.
Plants: 154 | From: Canada | Registered: Feb 2005
| Seeded: 24.78.205.2
posted
Yeppers I got a bunch that was like that too. Fortunately not nearly as many as you did. Just 1 5 lb bag. I also notice that the onions were smaller than the norm.
* * * * Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.78.50
posted
Hi Limey just read your post about jeyes, dont think it will work because a lot of the old boys over the allotment use jeyes, and they seem to get it before me. I think it may help for the white mould we get around the roots' which is quite bad because they wont store, just rot. i will take a look at robinson's though! i used to grow kelsea a few years ago, used to get them upto 6lb. miss growing them! wanted to get them bigger, but theres no way until i cure my problem.
* * * * Mark Plants: 7132 | From: essex england | Registered: Jan 2006
| Seeded: 213.107.224.24
posted
Thanks daisey nice to know the big boys get it wrong! i know they go like that if there not dried properly. we had a wet spell when i tried to dry mine, luckily one of my greenhouses was empty or i would have lost a lot by now! still gonna beat it in the end, (i hope).
* * * * Mark Plants: 7132 | From: essex england | Registered: Jan 2006
| Seeded: 213.107.224.24
posted
Weezie i rotate all my veg each year, except my runner beans. just to put you in the picture a bit more,,, where my veg plot is, i think there is something like 40 other plots around it, so if one person gets a disease or problem we all end up with it at some stage. my garden at home is reserved for flowers. keeps the wife happy that way!
* * * * Mark Plants: 7132 | From: essex england | Registered: Jan 2006
| Seeded: 213.107.224.24
posted
Yeah it does make it difficult, you never know where people source there plants compost ect. i know most of them and im sure it would help to stop growing them, but i think some would prefer to chop off a toe than miss out on a few onions! still even better when i solve it, they will all be standing there scratchin there heads,,,, ive got a couple of things to try this year, i will grow two seperate lots and treat them with something each, and see which come out best
* * * * Mark Plants: 7132 | From: essex england | Registered: Jan 2006
| Seeded: 213.107.224.24
posted
Mark, I've been doing some more research and here are some other natural fungal sprays that might help.
1. Add 1 cup alfalfa meal to 1 gallon of water in a bucket. After a few hours, strain the mixture through cheesecloth. Add a dash of biodegradable dishwashing liquid to help the tea stick and spray the plants.
2. Cut or tear 1/2 cup rhubarb leaves (about 6 leaves) into small pieces. Place the leaves in 3 quarts of water and bring to a rolling boil. Steep the leaves for at least an hour or overnight. Shred the boiled leaves further in a blender, if desired. Strain the solution through a cheesecloth and pour into a spray bottle to spray plants.
3. Steep 3 cloves garlic (crushed), 1 onion (peeled and minced), and 1 teaspoon jalapeno peppper (crushed) in warm water for 1 hour or longer. Strain through cheesecloth. In the spray bottle, dilute 1 part of the strained liquid with 4 parts warm water and add 1 droop dishwashing liquid or 2 tablespoons horticultural oil. Mist plants lightly.
4. Chamomile tea works against damping-off fungi that attack seedlings, perhaps it would work on other types of fungi also. 1 tea bag per cup of boiling water. Let steep till it cools to room temperature. Spray.
* * * * Terry
May the force be with you Plants: 1370 | From: Copper Hill, Virginia | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 207.69.139.155
posted
Thanks for the information about chamomile tea Terri. I'll have to get some of that. Especially if I try lettuce again this year. And I'm sure I will since I have 4 different kinds in the seed box. Sometimes I think I am a glutton for punishment.
* * * * Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.51.215
posted
When I had been reading up on COMPOST in some of my readings they say that COMPOST TEA is supposed to be a natural "problem solver" in the garden for many woes's when used as a foliar spray...
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
Hi folks, When you buy your onion seeds from any catalogue it gives you the name and a short discription (round,flat,large,sweet....)it also says good keepers overwinter keeping and also SHORT TERM STORAGE watch what you buy Dave
Plants: 77 | From: n of cobourg ontario | Registered: Aug 2003
| Seeded: 206.172.225.123
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neck rot isnt a problem yet
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