[mumofstig]

From following some Realfood's links and a bit of Googleing it seems there is another basal rot...Fusarium basal rot, which may come via the sets  

RHS link
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=685

This one 'only' lasts 4 - 5 years.........at least not as many as white rot

[stentman]

And who's going to tell Monty about the special Garlic water? 

[Aunt Sally]

And who's going to tell Monty about the special Garlic water? 

Does he not know about it ?

[snowdrops]

I don't mind popping in to tell him  ;)Can we just make sure Sarah Don is out though.

[mumofstig]

He did an article about it, I remember reading it 

[Carollan]

 Warwick university have done trials on white rot sclerotia,or whatever the damaging fungus is called! This work has examined the effects of onion waste compost ,which another angle on using the smell and presence of onion to fool the sclerotia into getting on with work,and then dying  because there are no roots there.I shall be trying both ideas out next year on my white rot patch !!

[Ivor Backache]

I had onions in three of the raised beds and there has been white rot on onions from all of the beds, bearing in mind, I had no single case of it last year, could this point to contamination from the sets that I bought from Wilko's???

That's interesting. I bought my red onion sets from there also. About 20% have white rot..
I also have a white rot problem and 2 years ago I dug out a 3' trench and refilled it with manure/compost/clean soil. Last year i did not have any rot. Now i have it in that replaced trench.
My white onions grown from seed do not have any rot.
In June and July I start checking my onions individually for rot. Onions with a good root are well anchored. Those with rot pull away easily. If the onion starts to give way I will remove it. On the same principal as discussed with the host removed the rot will die. Put a stick in the ground as a marker. When the onions are finally harvested I am left with the marker sticks. I dig out the soil .
Also don't be tempted to plant too closely. Onion roots grow down and out and will intermingle and rot will pass from plant to plant. I suggest a min of 6".
Last year i harvested the whites too soon and the crop suffered with neck rot. I am watching them  closely and so far OK. I am taking out the reds.They don't store too good anyway.

[mumofstig]

As I posted above there is an onion rot that can be spread on sets...basal bulb rot.

Perhaps this is what has caused so many people to suffer with rot this year 

[fatbelly]

I have got White Rot on my Onions and I am 100% gutted.

We eat a lot of Onions, Shallots and Garlic and to know that I can't grow these crops for up to 20 years is Poo. I do have a large plot so I will try growing my Aliums as far away from this years infected area as possible and see how it goes.

As regards sterilising the soil I have heard about using Jeyes fluid but the Mods on this forum come down on that suggestion like a ton of bricks which I think doesn't reflect the needs of poster's who come on here looking for solutions.

A fellow plotter said that in the winter I should have a bonfire on the infected area and use this to sterilise the soil, will that work does anyone know.

[mumofstig]

As regards sterilising the soil I have heard about using Jeyes fluid but the Mods on this forum come down on that suggestion like a ton of bricks which I think doesn't reflect the needs of poster's who come on here looking for solutions.

It's because we don't like discussions about breaking the Law as it stands, that's all
There's nothing to stop you actually using it, if you really wish to do so.........instructions are elsewhere on the internet, if you need them.

[Aunt Sally]

I've heard of some old timers using soil sterilants (years ago) but as far as I know it is not very effective.

You might try the garlic treatment though.  The scientific community is testing it out at the moment.

[AndyRVTR]

When this awfu; weather clears up, I for one will be using the garlic method and see what the results are...

[realfood]

You have got nothing to loose and everything to gain by trying the ground up garlic in water solution. The more people that try it the better, but I am convinced after only one year that it works. It is surprising that "Gardening Organic" have not published any results yet of the trial that they were allegedly running.
 I am still harvesting onions and shallots and still no sign of white rot in them. However, one of my spring salad onions had white rot.
I have now harvested all my ordinary garlic, 120 heads, and 5 had white rot.  Perhaps I did not treat the garlic bed as well as the bed for onions and shallots. Still very much better than last year when I lost about 30% of my garlic to white rot.