Register
  2. Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
  3. Growing
  4. Grow Your Own
  5. Leek decimation!!!!!!

« when is the best time to spread muck,plus more | Horirble rotting parsnips!! »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Leek decimation!!!!!!

  • 13 Replies
  • 2385 Views
*

marcofez

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Peterborough
  • 453
  • Land of the Triffids
Leek decimation!!!!!!
« on: September 20, 2011, 23:01 »
Was weeding my leeks and noticed that nearly all of them were affected by some sort of disease or insect attack. This is my 1st try at growing them, they were fit and healthy a week ago, so decided to have a nose around the allotment. I bumped into another  holder and he informed me that everyone with leeks on site had the same problem! Could anyone help me out with what they believe it could be! I took a couple of photo's of plants.
phpxpTKV0PM.jpg
php0EpfjfPM.jpg
Logged
*

Yorkie

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: North Yorkshire
  • 26465
Re: Leek decimation!!!!!!
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2011, 23:01 »
See my reply and DD's on your diary comments thread.

Leek moth.
Logged
I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days all attack me at once...
*

viettaclark

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Southampton
  • 1966
Re: Leek decimation!!!!!!
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2011, 23:05 »
Yup! But don't rip them out yet!
Mine regrew last year.....these leeks are tough as nails!
Logged
*

m1ckz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: essex
  • 1548
Re: Leek decimation!!!!!!
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2011, 07:26 »
mine look the same    i was told its leek moth  but im not sure
Logged
*

DD.

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Loughborough. a/k/a Digger Dave. Prettiest Pumpkin prizewinner 2011
  • 30465
  • Pea God & Founder Member of The NFGG
Re: Leek decimation!!!!!!
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2011, 07:29 »
Why aren't you sure, Mick?

If they look like that, pound to a penny you've got it.

I've suffered with it, so know what it looks like first hand.
Logged
Did it really tell you to do THAT on the packet?
*

marcofez

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Peterborough
  • 453
  • Land of the Triffids
Re: Leek decimation!!!!!!
« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2011, 08:15 »
DD, could you please tell me how you grow and protect your leeks from this. Thanks
Logged
*

DD.

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Loughborough. a/k/a Digger Dave. Prettiest Pumpkin prizewinner 2011
  • 30465
  • Pea God & Founder Member of The NFGG
Re: Leek decimation!!!!!!
« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2011, 08:27 »
This is a relatively new pest that has moved in from the continent and is now moving northwards from the south of England.

The really only effective way is to mesh or fleece your leeks, in similar vein to carrot fly prevention.
Logged
*

Salmo

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Peterborough
  • 3787
Re: Leek decimation!!!!!!
« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2011, 09:49 »
The definitive proof would be to pull up a plant and cut it up to find any leek moth caterpillars. There could also be cocoons on the leaves.

This is worryingly close to me  :ohmy:

The way we grow leeks as a good winter crop that often stays in the ground until it bolts in April/May is exactly why this new pest is spreading. 

From what I can gather the caterpillars eventually come out of the plants and pupate in cocoons, mainly on the leaves but some go into the ground ready to hatch in the Spring and lay eggs on new leek crops.

Are there other solutions to this pest apart from covering with fleece/netting. Soon my whole plot will be environetted, leek moth, carrot fly, pea moth. Because the caterpillars are deep inside the plants and we want to eat them chemicals are probably never going to be the answer.

I wonder if all affected plants should be pulled up and destroyed as soon as seen. A bit like foot and mouth.

If several plot holders have affected crops maybe your allotment should consider a rule that all leeks must be lifted by say early March, or even ban growing leeks for a year. Would this do any good?

Any other ideas? What do the farmers do?


Logged
*

m1ckz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: essex
  • 1548
Re: Leek decimation!!!!!!
« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2011, 11:39 »
well i guess i have it too,,they where doing so well too,,all of our allotment seem to be the same  , what a shame
Logged
*

Lardman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Worcestershire
  • 9423
Re: Leek decimation!!!!!!
« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2011, 12:48 »
Quote from: Salmo on September 21, 2011, 09:49
The definitive proof would be to pull up a plant and cut it up to find any leek moth caterpillars. There could also be cocoons on the leaves.

Like this.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=83753.msg932790#msg932790

I've been preparing a list of things for next year, against a list of this years pest and their prevention / cure. It's rather depressing and pointing towards the need to cover everything in mesh.
Logged
*

marcofez

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Peterborough
  • 453
  • Land of the Triffids
Re: Leek decimation!!!!!!
« Reply #10 on: September 21, 2011, 20:45 »
Might try some of them tips from Lardman link, like spraying with the liquid from boiled rhubarb leaves. Also might even try a garlic pesticide concotion that I saw on You Tube! Anything that helps, don't want to keep netting everything!!!!!! :(
Logged
*

Yorkie

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: North Yorkshire
  • 26465
Re: Leek decimation!!!!!!
« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2011, 22:09 »
marcofez, please read this from the site owner about homemade pesticides:
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=65430.0
Logged
*

Bing

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Thurrock
  • 330
Re: Leek decimation!!!!!!
« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2011, 22:38 »
got the leek moth caterpillars on almost all my leeks. have to pull them all up. and there are red spots all over the leek leaives.
Logged
Rain at night, sunshine all day long!
*

DD.

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Loughborough. a/k/a Digger Dave. Prettiest Pumpkin prizewinner 2011
  • 30465
  • Pea God & Founder Member of The NFGG
Re: Leek decimation!!!!!!
« Reply #13 on: September 21, 2011, 22:43 »
See post 3. Pulling them up is jumping the gun.

The red spots are rust, but that doesn't affect all your leek. I get it every year, just dispose of the excess foliage when trimming your leeks.

Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« when is the best time to spread muck,plus more | Horirble rotting parsnips!! »

* Similar Topics

xx
Thinning leek seedlings (sorry another leek question)

Started by LivvyW on Grow Your Own

13 Replies
9238 Views 		Last post May 06, 2009, 07:21
by DD.
xx
I need help with a Leek

Started by Trevorfm on Grow Your Own

12 Replies
4914 Views 		Last post January 18, 2017, 13:29
by viettaclark
xx
Leek & Little One

Started by Snap Dragon on Grow Your Own

3 Replies
1656 Views 		Last post May 12, 2008, 23:03
by compostqueen
xx
I need a leek....

Started by Steveharford on Grow Your Own

15 Replies
5405 Views 		Last post January 06, 2014, 08:54
by devonbarmygardener
 

  • Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat ©

Page created in 0.686 seconds with 37 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |