[MoreWhisky]

I have just about given up trying to grow onions on my plot, as white rot takes so many out, so i just grow a couple rows for the sake of it every year.

Luckily i have just been given 2 of those plastic raised beds (about 6inches high) from a friend who has sadly decided to give his lotty up. My idea is to use these to grow onions in by  filling them with bought in compost.  i would also try my best to keep the contents clean and not walk on them etc.

I know eventually the white rot would get in/through/under somehow but as a short term measure would this get me some onions? any advice tips or any comments on this would be really welcome!

Cheers MW

I just want some onions 

[AndyRVTR]

I had major problems with my onions this year too... again, like you down to white rot.
I did grow some in containers which I kept totally separate from the affected ones and they were fine
Next year I'll be planting onions in a totally different part of the plot that hasnt even been dug over yet and I'll see what results I get then.

[JaK]

I have had to grow onions in raised beds for a few years and they always grow well, even with very little space for crop rotation. I have not met white rot yet but I guess I may do in time.

[Yorkie]

Worth a try although as white rot travels through soil, you may find that it works its way upwards through water capillary action.

If your friend had white rot on his plot I'd advise that you sterilise the bed frame in Jeyes fluid or similar before putting them on the plot.  And don't walk on the beds once you've filled them with clean soil / compost.

And make sure you maintain scrupulous hygiene with your tools - if you dig with a fork or trowel on the plot, then use the tool on the beds without cleaning, you'll transfer the pathogens in immediately.

[bigben]

Like you I am also finding that my soil has white rot. So far over half of my beds have shown it so I am not optimistic about the others. I read about a suggestion to fight it by using garlic powder watered into the soil. The theory is that this fools the spores into germinating thinking they are going to impregnate the garlic. Because there is no garlic for to host them they die. So the number of spores is reduced. If you water the beds you are not using for onions/ garlic with the garlic solution the theory is that after a few years they should be useable for growing onions.
I have started doing this just this year so will let you know how it goes. The raised bed idea should buy you some time but I think the white rot will come up thru the soil and eventually effect the raised bed.
Good luck!