[sunshineband]

Some of my autumn sown onion sets have twisted distorted leaves that look like it could be onion stem eelworm.

Any idea how this could have arrived please?

Is there any way of getting rid of it from the soil?

[mumofstig]

Allium leaf miner, leek moth and onion fly advice here

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=680

Is onion stem eelworm a different pest that I've never heard of before now?

[sunshineband]

It does seem not to have been around that long ... found this pic from Alan Buckingham (mine are identical) Allotment Month by Month.

It is certainly not something anyone on nearby plots has ever had, and it is not in my friend's book about plant diseases

[Lardman]

Are those little white dots on the stem I can see?

Id be blaming Allium leaf miner,  are your leeks and garlic ok?

[sunshineband]

No sign of leaf miner. Only a few of the Autumn planted sets are affected. The others in nearby beds are fine, as are all the garlic and some leeks I am keeping for seed

[grinling]

It's a microscopic soil living pest....cannot store bulbs
lift & burn infected...do not compost


do not grow onions,peas,beans,strawberries for several years

veg & herb expert Dr D G Hessayon

[grinling]

Also

http://www.donsgarden.co.uk/pests/357

[sunshineband]

Wow! Thanks grinling.

I wonder if it arrived with the sets? I cannot think it just floated in from no-where and all the other onions in other beds are fine. It cannot travel through the air surely... should I worry about these others?

[grinling]

I think it was infected bulbs,I had white rot on some last year, so now using garlic water on the soil. (farmers garlic water the land 4 years before planting)
They recommend removing and destroying within 1 meter square, I would take up and slice and freeze the onion. Do not compost any onion/garlic leaves etc.
Same eelworm does potatoes.
Using the marigold or mustard seems the best bet, I marked off my area, but now I have the garlic in the water butts

[sunshineband]

I have taken out affected bulbs and will be sowing mustard there. Thanks for your advice grinling. Using garlic water sounds an interesting idea too.

It is not my year for onions --- the ones on our second plot have Onion Fly. ARGGHHHH!!!! I shall be growing them under environmesh at this rate.