[chimaera]

I have lost almost all of my onions and probably most of the garlic to base rot, and have had to dig them all up and throw them out. The same bed also has some shallots in it which look healthy enough at the moment, but should I dig them up and use them as they are anyway before they die too?

Charlie

[peapod]

They will also suffer from the same disease  , so dig them up while you still can

[chimaera]

OK, thanks
Is it still possible to dry them off to store or do i have to use them now?

Charlie

[simond9383]

I have been similarly afflicted but my shallots and red onions still seem to be holding up well - I read somewhere that they are more resistant to white rot.

I have also read that watering in a solution of garlic powder to your prospective allium bed can do for the rot - the theory is that it tricks the dormant spores into thinking that there are onions there, they germinate but then die because there isn't anything to latch onto. Has anyone any experience of this - when to do it, what concentration?

[Yorkie]

Given that the spores can exist for decades in soil, and there's no known prevention / cure, I'd be very reluctant to assume that the garlic trick would do the trick - but then I've never tried it so who knows 

[dougsta]

I feel for you - have had the same thing myself.
Shallots worse than the onions though - lost the lot
The onions that are affected are OK if I catch them early enough - can peel off the outer layers and still use the inner as normal.