Problems with rotation!

[Snadger]

I have two seperate areas on my double allotment plots, one has clubroot and tuther has white rot.

Rotation in the past would have probably saved these areas (that and never accepting brassicas or allium plants from ANYONE!)

I use a four year rotation but now that I have realised I have these problem areas, rotation has become a nightmare!

To solve it, I am trying to adopt a three year rotation in these specific areas either omitting brassicas or alliums.

It doesn't half complicate matters and knocks my original crop rotation plans for six.

I know I could, and I do, grow clubroot resistant varieties but as far as I know there are no whiterot resistant alliums!

Now all I need is to come across some long lasting problem with growing legumes or tatties and that will really put the cat among the pigeons!

Isn't life jolly!

[Kristen]

How long do clubroot and white rot persist - before you can reuse those plots?

[Snadger]

How long do clubroot and white rot persist - before you can reuse those plots?

Between 8 and 15 years methinks, but I don't know how long it's been in the ground! I'll just have try an odd allium or brassica each year to find out!

[Kristen]

Any way to sterilise the soil? On the nursery where I worked (many MANY years ago!!) we used to do metal pipes (about 4" diameter I guess) then heap the soil in a ridge along the pipes, cover it all with tarpaulins and hook it up to the steam outlet from the greenhouse heating boiler for a few hours.

Not a very transportable solution! but if it works maybe something you could hire in perhaps? No idea, just speculating, and can't said I've stumbled over any such solutions on my travels around the net either!