White rot on garlic

[TrixC]

I normally grow enough garlic on my allotment to be self sufficient for the year, despite various issues with rust and allium leaf miner. However this year I’ve had to throw away the entire harvest due to what appears to be onion white rot. From what I’ve read this is really bad news, has anyone had success in combating it? I practice crop rotation on a four yearly cycle.

[Scarlet]

I got it several years back. I manage to grow giant garlic ok....but well away from the veg plot. I tried a few times since but all was s disaster really. I haven't grown anything from the onion family now for about 4 years

There's a few threads on it...
https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...way_93743.html

[Snoop Puss]

Are you sure it was onion white rot? If so, that really is bad news. Big hug and commiserations from me.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=226

[TrixC]

Thanks. I am curious to know if anyone’s actually had success with that technique of watering with garlic granules and/or garlic, and when’s the best timing to do it. How about companion planting? I really enjoy growing garlic so I’d be pretty disappointed to have to stop. I already have club root which basically rules out brassicas.

[Mr Bones]

You're not alone Trix, our garlic this year was grown in a bed that I reckon hasn't been used for alliums for at least 12 years and about 30% still got white rot (the plot's covered in it). I read somewhere it can remain in the soil for up to 20 years.
We left the affected bulbs out to dry for a couple of days then rubbed off what we could into a bin bag. The salvaged cloves were peeled and made into lazy garlic.

Just for info, have found Golden bear onions grown from seed are extremely white rot resistant but they do seem rather susceptible to allium miner.

[bramble]

Trix, I have been growing garlic in half barrels for the last few years with good results.
Maybe give containers a try,

[Tripmeup]

As Bramble says, you could grow your garlic in deep containers..Sounds like a horrible thing..
Not sure how I'd survive without growing allium family
.

[TrixC]

I don’t really want to grow garlic in containers, I have a young baby and find it hard enough to keep up with the watering regime for the containers I already have. One of the appeals of this crop was that its normally so low maintenance.

[kitty12345]

TrixC I know how you feel. I love growing garlic as it's low maintenance and a winter crop so a good use of space. We use it alot too so last winter I put in loads. I have had allium leaf miner too affecting one of two garlic beds, my onions and shallots also didn't grow well. I'm worried now it will attack my chives, spring onions etc.

[treepixie]

I can sympathise I lost the whole of my autumn planted onions to white rot this year

[Jay-ell]

Incidentally you don't have to bin alliums with white rot - it doesn't affect people. Bulbs affected by it won't store but you can make lazy garlic with it and I had a freezer full of chopped onions which were affected a couple of years ago.

I havent tried growing on the worse affected beds but in the Jungle all the beds had some white rot. I've been dusting each year with garlic powder and last year took the plunge and planted my Oerprei in one of the beds.

Whilst more resilient than garlic to white rot it looks reasonably healthy (apart from the rust) and should be ready to lift in a week or two.

[Trouvere]

This link contains a detailed review of white rot control methods. Garlic powder really does seem to work!

[TrixC]

This link contains a detailed review of white rot control methods. Garlic powder really does seem to work!

Great link thanks, I love a good research study!

[Mark_Riga]

If you have 4 year rotation, you still have 3 good beds to use in a rotation? You would need to be sure you clean tools though after use in affected bed. Also plant bulbs at least 6 inches apart so the fungus is less likley to be able to spread from plant to plant.
I've been growing autumn planted onion sets where I have white rot and lifting them early (a bit of a variation on garlic powder). out of about 100 bulbs lifted 2 weeks ago, 5 had signs of whiterot. I took a spadefull of soil from where each had been to dispose of. These are being eaten now while the main crop matures. I've been eating these for a while now the first pluckings lie spring onions.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Try growing Caliente mustard in the bed during the summer before you plant your garlic. When the mustard is growing strongly, chop it up with a spade and then dig it in. Cover with black polythene and weight it down so it doesn't blow away. It's supposed to work really well although I haven't tried it myself.