Uh oh, I think I did a silly thing.

[SlugLobber]

Just reading further replies to the Onion Rot thread and realised that before I knew what it was, I put the trimmings from affected onion bulbs into the compost bin. What a stoopid thing to do!! Should I go fishing in there (it's near the top), or is it not worth it? I can make sure I use this compost on another bed, if necessary, but knowing me, I'll forget!

[Two_Sheds]

Actually, you are creating a good control for white rot, by composting your onions. Bob Flowerdew mentioned it on GQT the other week.

Sounds iffy, doesn't it?

but look here: onion white rot control with composted waste

and here: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wh...lliumwhiterot/

[Two_Sheds]

I haven't time to read the whole article, but this looks informative. Composted onion waste helps to prevent Onion White Rot attacks.
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wh...onwrposter.pdf

[Paulottie]

Oh! well... I've been avoiding composting alliums for years.

From what I've just skimmed over it seemed to be most effective in combination with a fungicide or a biocontrol. This is going to take further work

I shall come back to this tonight....How interesting.... Thanks TS. I must have missed GQT that week.

[zazen999]

I had been composting onion remains to use it as a mulch to ward off carrot fly.

Need to read up a tad more and see what we can do.

[SlugLobber]

Well I never! I've always composted onion waste, but was worried by the introduction of infected waste, but I guess I'll be ok! Thanks, TS!

[Two_Sheds]

tbh, I've always composted my onion waste, white rot or not ... because it's meant to linger in the soil for 15 years anyway, so I'm not making the situation any worse!

[womble]

That's very interesting, I wonder if it has the same effect as the garlic sprays I mentioned on the other white rot thread.
ie that the white rot starts up when it senses the alliums in the soil, then because it doesn't have anything to really feed on, it dies.

I have always composted onions as well.