Leek attack

**Hazel at the Hill** · 12-09-2007, 11:08 AM

Leek moth

It's not a good couple of days for leeks on the Grapevine, it seems! On consulting Hessyan, he says

'Pale green 1/2 inch caterpillars feed inside young leaves so that only the outer skin remains. Treatment: spray with Crop Saver or Fenitrothion at the first signs of attack. Destroy badly affected leaves. No practical method of prevention.'

Mind you, covering with fleece, netting would surely lessen the possibility of attack?

**The Doctor** · 13-09-2007, 07:54 AM

I noticed exactly the same thing on my leeks at the weekend, and decided it was leek moth based on the Hessayon description.

Once I'd cut off the infected, munched bits, what was left was lovely.

It's getting to the point where I think the easiest way to net all the stuff at my plot is to put a big cage over the whole thing!

**pumpkin cuddler** · 13-09-2007, 09:42 AM

I am not sure if this is very bad news for all, or if we have been unfortunate.

For the last couple of years we too have suffered with this problem and were told that it was due to the leek moth.

We decided this years we would beat the problem. We covered our leeks in fleece from the first day that we planted them out.

Oh no. We uncovered them to check how well they were doing. Leek moth problem big time!!

We made sure that we were not slack and the fleece went down to the ground. As far as we were aware there were no gaps.

So the question is. Do they hibernate in the ground over the winter period? And in our case happily munch their way through our leeks in the comfortable, safe environment of the fleece covering or were we slack and missed and entrance that they managed to find.

We were also told that they only seem to attack leeks in areas were the soil is sandy. So would a huge increase in compost help reduce this problem??

Any advice for this would be of help. And sorry if it is bad news on the fleece covering.

**The Doctor** · 13-09-2007, 12:53 PM

Originally posted by pumpkin cuddler View Post

We were also told that they only seem to attack leeks in areas were the soil is sandy. So would a huge increase in compost help reduce this problem??

Definitely not true. My plot is predominantly clay. Only bits that aren't are the bits I'm slowly digging into it!

**Two_Sheds** · 28-09-2007, 03:02 PM

My leeks are always affected by leek moth maggots - horrible. Just slice off the leek and it will regrow. You can also do this when you harvest leeks...slice off don't pull up, they will regrow

**greenlung** · 28-09-2007, 03:25 PM

Snap ! My early leeks were looking awful after a moth/maggot attack, but I cut them right back and now they're growing fast & looking OK : )

**Snadger** · 28-09-2007, 08:56 PM

All the show leek growers on our allotment site always put a green fine mesh around there leek trenches. I'd always asumed it was for windbreak purposes but you've all got me thinking now, it could be for leek moth protection!

**rustylady** · 29-09-2007, 07:51 PM

Lots of evil beasties overwinter in the ground. This is why crop rotation is so important. Netting or fleece helps to prevent new visitors, but if the larvae are in the ground you've had it - covering the crop will just keep the little bu***rs in. There are chemical controls available, but I prefer not to use them.

**Barbara'nTom** · 02-10-2007, 09:12 AM

Just as an update - having given the leeks a good pruning or two the beast seems to have finished its munching this year and the crop now doesn't look too bad. As Two Sheds says they do grow again after a pune. Seems to be that September is the time the moth attacks so I will be prepared with fine mesh next year.

Thanks for the reassurance that it wasn't just me suffering here!!

**The Doctor** · 03-10-2007, 08:36 AM

Originally posted by rustylady View Post

Lots of evil beasties overwinter in the ground. This is why crop rotation is so important. Netting or fleece helps to prevent new visitors, but if the larvae are in the ground you've had it - covering the crop will just keep the little bu***rs in. There are chemical controls available, but I prefer not to use them.

Also the reason why we need a really cold spell every winter for about three weeks of ground frost!

it helps keep the soil pest numbers down too!

**Paulottie** · 07-10-2007, 12:59 AM

Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post

My leeks are always affected by leek moth maggots - horrible. Just slice off the leek and it will regrow. You can also do this when you harvest leeks...slice off don't pull up, they will regrow

Only just found this gem!

So you just pull back earth and cut as low as poss? then your re-earthing as they grow?

**Two_Sheds** · 07-10-2007, 11:44 AM

I don't bother earthing them ... I like the green bits.
for cropping, just slice off the leek about an inch below the soil (to get as much white leek as poss) instead of pulling it up. It will regrow - two for the price of one!

**Two_Sheds** · 06-06-2008, 08:58 AM

I always thought I had leek moth, but now it might be allium leaf miner. I noticed a maggot in my shallots yesterday:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pestnote/allium.pdf

The larvae of the leek moth have brown heads, legs on the thorax, and pro-legs on the abdominal segments. They are yellowish green in colour, and have hairs on dark raised spots. They vary in length from 1mm to 10 mm.

The Allium leaf-miner larvae however have no head capsule, do not possess legs, and are white/creamish in colour.

the advice is to avoid planting alliums until after April, or to keep them under fleece. Another ruddy pest to deal with

Suspected outbreaks of allium leaf miner should be reported to the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate: Defra, UK - Plant Health - Contacts . All samples will be submitted to the Central Science Laboratory for confirmation

**baggyman** · 06-06-2008, 02:09 PM

Leek moth pah! Kids stuff! Wait until the allium leaf miner gets on to your plot!
Dont plant until may cover with enviromesh in spring and autumn.....a nightmare!!!!!

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