Rust, Rust Everywhere
So, now we also have leek rust to contend with - pictured here on my garlic (click on photo to enlarge).
Leek rust is a fungal disease which affects leeks, garlic, onions and chives. It is most visible from mid-summer until late autumn. Like all rusts, extremes of weather will make it worse - generally warm, wet summers but also very dry spells. Severe attacks cause leaves to shrivel and die prematurely and will reduce growth.
The spores of the fungus (Puccinia allii) are airborne and will therefore spread to other plants in the allium family. On garlic - if badly infected - it is best to cut away the leaves to control the spread of the disease. The plant should continue growing with just the stalk until it is time to harvest. Don't put the diseased material in your compost as dormant spores can overwinter.
As my garlic was quite badly infected, I decided to harvest the bulbs a little early with a view to preventing the spread to my onions and leeks (and other peoples).
If your leeks do become infected you will just have to hope they grow out of it when the weather gets cooler in the autumn.
Symptoms
Bright orange pustules on leaves which break open to release dusty, orange airborne spores.
Control
Try to remember where you had bad cases of rust this year and avoid sowing related crops in the same place for as long as possible - applies also to broad bean rust.
Leek rust is a fungal disease which affects leeks, garlic, onions and chives. It is most visible from mid-summer until late autumn. Like all rusts, extremes of weather will make it worse - generally warm, wet summers but also very dry spells. Severe attacks cause leaves to shrivel and die prematurely and will reduce growth.
The spores of the fungus (Puccinia allii) are airborne and will therefore spread to other plants in the allium family. On garlic - if badly infected - it is best to cut away the leaves to control the spread of the disease. The plant should continue growing with just the stalk until it is time to harvest. Don't put the diseased material in your compost as dormant spores can overwinter.
As my garlic was quite badly infected, I decided to harvest the bulbs a little early with a view to preventing the spread to my onions and leeks (and other peoples).
If your leeks do become infected you will just have to hope they grow out of it when the weather gets cooler in the autumn.
Symptoms
Bright orange pustules on leaves which break open to release dusty, orange airborne spores.
Control
- Infections are worse on nitrogen-rich soils with low potassium, so take care with fertiliser applications - and don't sow your allium crops where you sowed last year's beans.
- Don't over-crowd plants. Wider spacing will allow better air circulation.
- Dispose of all plant debris at the end of cropping.
- Certain varieties claim a degree of resistance - check the latest catalogues.
- There are no chemicals approved for control of leek rust for gardeners.
Try to remember where you had bad cases of rust this year and avoid sowing related crops in the same place for as long as possible - applies also to broad bean rust.
Submitted by Jane, plot 9
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