Calling Onion Experts..what's this ??

[vegmandan]

I'm having a problem with some of my Exhibition Onion seedlings.

The top 1 cm ,no more, of some is just shrivelling up.

I am at a loss as to what it is that's happening.

I'm growing them indoors under lights in a well ventilated space so I dont think it's a fungal problem,and it is only affecting some,and only the top inch of the leaf ??

It's not travelling down the leaf but just affecting the top inch ?

Anyone got any ideas ?

Cheers.

[Snadger]

There is a disease called 'onion white tip' but it usually affects plants at a later stage of growth?

Just googled it and got this:-

Onions - Tip Blight

[vegmandan]

Cheers for that,I know what you mean about it generally only affecting larger plants.
These are only about 3 weeks old seedlings,and It just stops after the ist 1cm of the leaf.
I'm really baffled.

[Demeter]

Snadger - I think you have helped me identify what happened to my leeks!
Onions, Leeks, and Garlic: A ... - Google Book Search

Apparently (among other things) overcrowding and lots of rain plus wind or insect damage can make onions vulnerable to this, so if the same applies to leeks then I reckon that's what mine had.

[kitchengardner]

white tip

Cheers for that,I know what you mean about it generally only affecting larger plants.
These are only about 3 weeks old seedlings,and It just stops after the ist 1cm of the leaf.
I'm really baffled.

I had this a couple of years ago and being an organic grower can't spray so I cut the affected tips off and then dusted the plants with Bordeaux mix which seemed to do the trick

Regards

Kitchen Gardener