onion fly ?

[cauli77]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and fairly new to veg gardening.
Please can anybody help with an onion problem I have.
Rijnsburger sown from seed and planted out in 2 stages as I got the ground ready.
First lot planted out 2nd May and growing away brilliantly.
Second lot planted out 24th May and are now wilting.
Thought it was a lack of water so gave them a drink but no joy.
Decided to pull one up tonight and at the bottom of the plant are very small whitish maggots.
Are they all doomed or is there anything I can do?
Sorry about the long winded first post but I think I need some help

[T8Ter]

Sounds like onion fly maggots, as far as I'm aware there's no chemical cure for them, first sign is the leaves yellowing/drooping with the plant eventually dying, fleece over the crop is probably the most efficient way of stopping the fly laying it's eggs.

[cauli77]

Thanks for the reply T8Ter - will the fleece have to be over them all the time or do you remove it when the onions are a certain size ?

[T8Ter]

Hi Cauli I didn't know the answer but just having looked it up it seems, dependant on when the onions are sown (spring sown most vulnerable) there could be attacks up to september, however, part of my info above is out of date as it seems there are chemicals (if you're that way inclined) to treat this. There are some natural predators (beetles and at least one type of wasp) that can help but whether there's sufficient numbers to control them is another matter. The link below has a bit more info.

How to grow onions and spring onions for success and flavour

[cauli77]

Thank you for all the info and the link T8ter - I'm trying to grow without chemicals so fleece may be the way to go.