How do I combat Leek Rust??

[Edwardo82]

Dear all,

My leeks have definitely got leek rust and I fear it was mainly due to close planting. Would it help if I thinned them out and can I do anything else other than wait for cold weather to hault the spread and infection?

I look forward to your comments.

Many Thanks

Ed

[Nicos]

Thinning would be helpful.
Can you cut away some of the outer leaves???

here you go- this is useful......

Leek rust - Wellsphere


and Yup- I've got rust on mine and they're not too close together, nor poor hygiene...

...and my chives have it too!

[Skotch]

My leek bed has suffered terribly from rust this year. In the end I simply ripped off the affected leaves and burned them. It doesn't appear to have damaged the plants at all.

[bluemoon]

Our leeks suffer from rust every year, it doesn't actually seem to do them any harm. I never treat it and they continue to grow well. I do make sure there's always adequate crop rotation and, because I garden on large beds it is possible to only plant leeks in the same place every eight years, the infection stays minor and really isn't worth worrying about. I don't compost the leaves though. In my experience it's more an unsightly problem than a real threat to their health. There are one or two rust resistant varieties about if you really don't like it, but I'm not sure what their flavour is like.

[ken smith]

Avoid using too much high nitrogen feed and give a high potash feed in late summer will make your leeks more resistant to rust.

[snuffer]

I know it's to late now but I have seen fellow plot holders put vaseline on their leeks to stop rust spreading.

Apparently if you catch it early enough, when there are just a few patches on the odd plant, smearing the affected area with vaseline stops the spores spreading.

From what I have seen it seems to work. I shall definately be trying it next year. Can't do any harm.

[Shadylane]

Someone on here said that cheap gin worked a treat. It seems almost everything on our plot has rust - even the weeds

[snuffer]

Someone on here said that cheap gin worked a treat. It seems almost everything on our plot has rust - even the weeds

Yes, if you drink enough you don't notice the rust anymore.

[Edwardo82]

Thanks everyone, I think I will definitely start by thinning them out and then buy some Gin lol to forget about the infection.

Isn't amazing how much you learn in your first real growing year!

Thanks again!