Leeks

Hi folks.

For three years now I've tried growing Leeks, and on each occasion they've ended up with rust. Having looked about on the www, the general suggestion is to use resistant varieties. Thing is, it seems that most varieties claim to have resistance. Has anyone come across a variety that has genuine resistance?

Cheers...Freddy

 

Er No Freddy! I've grown Musselburgh this year, yes they have some rust and quite a few ran to seed! :(b
Those that went to seed I used immediately, those with rust I just pull off the "rusty" bits and use the remainder as "normal", they still taste great :D

 

Freddy, years ago I was on GQT, the question I had to ask was, " My Leeks have rust, what can I do"? I was told that I should smear Vaseline over the outer leaves to stop the spores spreading, and to let the plants grow on.

 

Hi folks, thanks for the replies.

Vince, the thing is, mine always seem to get struck early, just as they're really getting going, so there's nothing really of any use.

Dai, I read somewhere about the Vaseline treatment, did it work? You reckon it would be worth using it as a preventative?

Cheers...Freddy.

 

Fred, rust doesn`t stop the plant growing but the Vaseline does act as a preventative. However. I`ve never tried it. I`ve grown Lyon Prizetaker2 the last 2 years with no problems.

 

Hi Dai.

It doesn't stop them growing? Mine were totally wiped out on each occasion. Maybe there was something else also?

 

Certainly not rust Fred. What were the symptoms?

 

Hiya Dai.

Well, it looked EXACTLY like rust. After that, the plants just flopped down and died. BTW, at this point the roots were still ok.

 

As Dai says rust shouldn't make them totally flop. If you want to try rust resistant types Porvite and Bandit worked for me after experiencing a couple of years when my usual Musselburgh developed rust. However this year I planted some bought in Musselburgh as well as my self sown Porvite and none of the plants has rust!

 

Hiya Dave.

I tried Porvite last year, same result. I have however seen Bandit mentioned before, so maybe I'll try those next year, along with the Vaseline treatment.

Cheers...Freddy.

 

Fred, if you hadn`t said the roots were healthy I would have thought you had white/root rot. You didn`t take any pics I suppose? Just checked my books, and, apparently. If leeks are very badly affected with Rust then it can prove fatal and no member of the onion family should be grown in that area next year.

 

I've had rust, which didn't take the plants out completely, but alongside that i've had damage from what looks like some sort of leaf miner, nearly wiped the lot out. In fact it did this year with one patch, they just turned to slime.

The other 2 patches whilst affected, have now sprung back and are growing well.

This has happened in previous years too. There is no sign of White Rot, which I would recognise straight away.

 

Re the possibility of rust .
Tried the "vaseline " also added washing up liquid to water & sprayed them, both work to a point by adding protection from the spores .
But badly infected they are best dug up & disposed of . The bed treated with jeyes fluid & left for a year as Dai said.

 

Hiya folks, some great info there, thanks