Allium Leaf Miner

[calico]

Hello all.
New member.
I am Secretary of local Allotment Association in West Midlands.
An allotment gardener of more years than I care to remember  !!

Does anyone have an answer to the Allium Leaf Miner, it is now about the third or fourth year of its existence and seems to be getting far worse.

All Alliums are affected ( Leeks, Onions, Shallots etc ).
We have tried Pravado etc and nothing seems to work.

Not sure if the farmers have it yet or if they have some kind of preventative spray.

Nor am I sure if the problem is Nationwide or just confined to here in West Midlands.

Thanks in advance for any help. 

[calico]

[manicscousers]

hiya, calico, welcome to the site, can't help with the miner but I'm sure an expert will be along soon  ;D

[davyw1]

hiya, calico, welcome to the site, can't help with the miner but I'm sure an expert will be along soon  ;D

EXPERT????? You will need a scientist for that little bleeder.

[calico]

Thanks people.

Keep an eye open for this little varmint on your plots.

Symptoms of infection are curled up leaves and stunted growth on all Alliums.

I have a print fro DEFRA of its life - cycle and think that Autumn sown Onion Sets are probable less susceptible.

I look forward to meeting people on here and being of some help if I can.
I'm no expert but have a lot of growing experience.

[RSJK]

Calico, farmers do have preventive sprays but
i am afraid that they are not available for general use

[loopyloulou]

hello calico and welcome!
where in the west mids? am from birmingham myself 1st yr on the plot that i took on this feb and have seen the notice about the lil pesty, i was quite pleased at planting my onion sets early on too! sob! thought they may be about the only thing i get growing and now theres talk of this pest :( that said the old fella opposite has no problems looking at his any advice welcome!

[Robert_Brenchley]

The Council notice on my site says it's an eelworm. It isn't, unless there are too pests active at once. I cut open some of my onions last year, and they all had little maggots in them. Only the spring-planted onions were affected, and I did get a crop, though it was pretty small. This year everything's OK so far.

[calico]

Allotment Gardening at a place called " Tipton " near Dudley.

A site created by Sandwell Council about thirteen years ago.

[baggyman]

We were told to plant alliums after the 1st of may as the miner had already laid by then.
Any alliums already in the ground should be covered by fine net like enviromesh from early spring till may and again when the miner flys again in the Autumn.
It's a pain in the ar@e! >:( 
I'm in the Black country and I think only the west mids are affected so far.