Grow Your Own Magazine

My Autumn planted alliums are not doing too well, the tips of their leaves are yellowing and they are starting with rust. What do you suggest I should do? As it is still early in the season should I just pull them up and burn them and use the bed for something else? I was about to plant some spring garlic and shallots next to these ones and later leeks but now I am thinking I should put all this in another bed well away from the rust.
What do you think I should do?
I have read that you can just leave well alone and that the rust is purely cosmetic. I am concerned however that it will spread to other alliums if I leave it put.

Hi Helenclare, Dr Hessayon's book says that leeks & onions can be affected by rust & as you thought it doesn't really affect their edibile quality but looks unsightly. He does however say not to grow leeks or onions on the same site the following year so if you're sure it's rust I wouldn't put any other allium type plants next to them.

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Into every life a little rain must fall.

Thanks Sue,
thats what I thought, I will leave them in situ but not put anything else from the same family in there.

I had some rust two years ago and was asked was there coach frass nearby, which there was, and was told this was the cause.
Well by the next year it had all been dug up and no problems ever since even though i always plant the garlic and onions in the same place,
Hope this helps.

Hi bramble,
there is a little bit of couch grass so I will remove it all and see if that helps, am off up to the lottie now while the sun is shining!!

Have a good day, HC - it's glorious here too, hope it stays that way till tomorrow!

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Sat 15/11/2008......there's gold in them thar...compost bins!......

Having been up to the lottie today and had a look at my garlic, do you think it would help if I cut off the affected leaves with scissors? I thought this may help to stop it spreading...or should I just leave it alone?

Have planted more garlic and shallots on another bed well away from the infected lot!!

Hi Helenclare, if there are only 1 or 2 it might be worth it but remember to disinfect the scissors after, but if there are a lot just leave them as the plant needs the leaves to grow, rusty or not.

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Into every life a little rain must fall.