Hello John
I am very sympathetic as I lost my garlic to white rot a couple of weeks ago and today found my spring planted onions have it too! It is such a blow. I had already planted my leeks in the same bed so I think I will now move them as far away as possible and hope they stay clean. It is the long term effects too that are troublsome.
It is a good idea to clean tools, gloves, boots etc that might have come in contact with the onions to stop it spreading.
I am wondering whether to crush some uninfected garlic, mix with water and water on the infected bed. The theory is to trigger the fungus but it can’t grow as there are no plants. Evidently, once triggered, it can’t grow again. Another idea I read, was to chop up uninfected onions and spread over the bed, again to trigger the fungus, but it will not be able to get a hold as the onion bits will wither and die. Might be worth considering. Has anyone tried this?
On the bright side, the strawberry harvest continues to be fabulous!!
Black fly seem to be rampant in our part of Essex – even on my parsnips and another plotholder’s beetroot as well as the usual beans!