onion fly!

[simmo116]

just got back from the plot and have discoverd that about at least half my onion sets are infested with onion fly.as this is my first year growing anything i think i was under prepared and unsure of the risks. we had a bit of hail last week that batered the stems and as i was weeding i noticed that some were twisted and colapsing on closer inspection i discoverd the grubs inside eeaarrgghhhh! what do i do?
is it to late to plant some more sets? someone said they plant there sets at the begining of may surly a few weeks shouldnt matter
im just gutted!

[simmo116]

[Robert_Brenchley]

I had it a couple of years ago. I still got a crop, but the onions were pretty small. I haven't seen it since.

I see you're not too far away. It was all over Birmingham, but it's obviously moved on.

[simmo116]

in my books and online serches it says that i shouldnt have a problem using onion sets but my sets are riddled. im woried that if i replant more sets in the bed that ill still have grubs in the soil and ill be back to square one. our lottie secratary told me that the outbreak first happened in tetenhall wolverhampton.and quickly spread around the country.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I had it in sets, but it was a light infestation, the plants recovered, though the onions were small, and I haven't seen it since. If you're worried, pull out all the affected plants and burn them.

[Tee Gee]

some were twisted and colapsing

I think you will find your problem is 'eelworm' not onion fly!

BTW were they Japanese onions (Autumn sown)? or are they this years maincrop onions?

The reason I ask is it seems a bit early for onion fly on maincrop onions!

ps; to people reading this article who get onion problems, please state if it is Japanese or Maincrop  you are referring to. Quite often replies can be affected/different subject to which type you are referring to

[simmo116]

they are maincrop sets. have found maggots in them.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Maggots in the bulbs are the fly.

[simmo116]

thats what i thought. i've pulled all the affected bulbs seems to be every othwer one????? will wait now to see signs of more damage. it me thinks next year am going to bring top soil into house that way can be sure of no pests.... ;D apart from kids that is...lol