Topic: White Rot

[redimp]

Sorry, bit confused about this white rot lark.  As you all know, I am in my first year and I did get a little bit of rot this year in my garlic - just a few plants.  The plot had not been used for about three years.  Most of the books I have read have not treated it that seriously and have more or less implied that rotation will prevent it getting too bad and have also read about exhibition onion growers who grow onions in the same spot every year. 

However, I have also read online (and kept up to date with the recurring problems (nightmare) that Tim is having) that white rot is a serious problem and that onions will be very difficult in the future, unless (or despite) beds are raised.  Therefore, I am setting this up as a collection of opinions about white rot (see my confusion and panic levels rise simultaneously) and possible solutions.

[tim]

Clanger - I feel that most people's experience is too limited to act as a basis for planning.

Better, surely, to keep up-to-date, as you are doing, by reading everyting about it - like this - previously posted.

http://www.organicgardening.org.uk/factsheets/dc16.php

We do know that greatest care is needed if you are to avoid the slightest sign of infection spreading. And that once you have it, that's the end of that patch for many years. We cannot grow alliums anywhere in our plot now, because I hadn't read it up at the time we first got it. I had hoped that raised beds might be the answer but, although I filled them with sterilised soil, I didnt sterilise the soil that they went onto - so maybe the roots went down beyond the depth of the fill?

[redimp]

Yes please - or a link please Wardy.

[jennym]

There's some good info on this link.

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r584100511.html

[tim]

And why do we get it??

Bought-in seed? Dirty boots? From where? No one else comes here from an infected plot.

??

[redimp]

I can only assume my little bit came with my garlic, even though it was bought in seed garlic and not supermarket garlic.  Gutted as it is my first year and desperately hope it doesn't spread.

Jenny - that is a really interesting web site.  Up till now I have been planning on getting a big bag of value onions and soaking them in water and drenching the soil with that.  Might try the garlic 'extract' instead although I am yet to read anything about strength of solution or how much should be applied. Do have a graph on metcheck that tells me about soil temps (and moisture levels) at different depths though so at least I wil be able to apply it at about the right time.

[BAGGY]

My seed brochure bought garlic had the rot too.  I wont grow it now.  What about that leek that isn't a leek stuff that shifts around ( forgot the name).  Is that affected too.  I thought I read that it was the hardiest ?