White rot or powdery mildew?

[sandersj89]

My onions at the allotment are looking a little jaded all of a sudden. At the weekend they look fine, last night I have noticed some of the leaves have gone soft, started to wilt a little and have a dusting of white on them.

They were planted as sets in April. The bulbs have swollen but not quite full size yet.

My onions at home, planted a few weeks earlier, show no sign of a problem and are still healthy and green.

No mention of white rot was mentioned when I took on the site and I hope it has not got it as thet will mean the end of onion growing and I have over 100 leeks in the ground there as well!

Jerry

[sandersj89]

[tim]

White rot?? = Tim

[sandersj89]

Tim

The bulbs themself look fine, no signs of a problem there. Does white rot manisfest itself on the leaves, roots or bulb first?

Mine definately do not look like your picture, just a softening of the leaves and a slight dusty look to them. They are still upright.

Thanks

Jerry

[tim]

Don't know about stuff on the leaves - white rot makes them 'go over' before they are due - yellow, wilt & collapse, that's all. = Tim

[sandersj89]

Tim

This evening I took some pictures at the plot, this is a close up of the onion leaves, focus is a bit iffy but you should be able to see what I mean:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/165769920/165782693dXoBaz

You can also see more pictures at:

http://community.webshots.com/album/165769920QgirXC

As you can see the bulb is fine, the leaves are "powdery"!

Thanks


Jerry

[tim]

I've had it, 89, but can't see a reference to it anywhere. I'm sure your photo will prompt a reply elswhere. Nice album.

Carrot fleece - removed to show them off? And good picture of the 'gravel' you are growing in!! = Tim

[sandersj89]

Yes, gravel is not far from the truth at the moment. Heavy clay based soil that sets rock hard in the summer. Hence the approach of sowing things like carrot/parsnip in drills of compost so the dont get capped over.

A few years of manure will help as it has not seen any in a number of years!

Jerry