Can I Eat My Leeks? – Identifying Common Leek Diseases

Have you found spots or patches on your Leeks? Can you still eat your Leeks?

Don’t dig them up and throw them away yet!

Let’s take a look at a few common diseases of Leeks to see whether you can still take your leeks to the dinner table.

Leek Rust

It’s November in the Vegetable Garden and half of my Leeks have yet to be harvested and are still in the ground.

I noticed last week that Leek Rust has appeared on the leaves and I’m hoping I can still eat them.

Leek Rust

What is Leek Rust?

Leek Rust is a fungal disease that strikes on members of the allium family like Leek, onion or garlic.

Leek Rust is patches of yellow and orange raised up nodules on the leaves. If the disease is left to spread it will turn the leaf brown so that it dies and falls off.

How to avoid Leek Rust?

Leek rust thrives in wet conditions.

The best way to not get rust on your leeks in the first place is:

  • Space your Leeks apart for air flow so the air can dry the soil.
  • Dig up Leeks when they are ready for harvest and not leave them in the ground during wet periods.
  • Do not grow Leeks, onions or garlic in the same ground next year just in case the fungus is still in the soil.
Leek Rust on Leaves

Can you eat your Leeks if they have a rust on?

Yes, the disease only affects the leaves and not the white bit of the leek we eat.

Just peel off the leaves and any affected areas and cook and eat the rest of your leek.

Harvest your leeks as soon as you see the Leeks Rust as the disease will spread to all of your leek leaves.

Do not compost your Leek Leaves as the disease will spread in your wet compost heap and infect other material.

Allium Leaf Miner

Leeks

What is Allium Leaf Minor?

This is a tiny fly approximately 3mm in length, they lay eggs on the plants in early Spring (March to June). They eat the inside of the leaf which is where the term ‘Leaf Minor’ originates and the larvae which are brown, bury into the leaves and stem.

The long streak of white dots to the inside of the leaf is very visual and causes other infections in the plant as the plant becomes weaker.

The Allium Leaf Minor Pest will actively seek out plants that belong to the Onion Family.

Signs of Allium Leaf Minor Damage to Plants

  • Leaf Distortion and twisting as the leaves are attacked by the fly and larvae.
  • White lines running down the stem into the white edible section with brown pupae buried in it.
  • Lines of white dots along the foliage.
  • Rotting in bulbs ready to harvest in August.

Allium Leaf Minor – Solutions

  • Insect Mesh to cover the plants during the egg laying period of March & April. Also they are active in September to November.
  • Sow Leek seeds at a different time of the year not in Spring during the egg laying period.
  • Crop Rotation by moving where the plants grow, you may be able to avoid the pest problem for a different years.

Can you eat Leeks with Allium Minor Fly pupae in the white edible stem?

Unfortunately No, Leeks are unsafe to eat if you can see the brown pupae buried in the white stem.

Read More – The Leek Series



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gardening Queries on Mogra Plant – Why My Jasmine Plant is Not Flowering & Growing

Image
Why My Jasmine Plant is Not Flowering We are excited to introduce our new initiative – Gardening Queries , where we will answer some of the most common gardening problems faced by plant lovers. Whether you’re struggling with slow plant growth, lack of flowers, or any other gardening issue, we are here to help! Jasmine plant In this edition, we will be discussing one of the most frequently asked questions about Mogra (Arabian Jasmine) plants – Why is my Mogra plant not growing or flowering? If your plant is not thriving despite your best efforts, don’t worry! We’ve got the solutions you need. So, let’s get started: Jasmine or Mogra is one of the most beloved flowering plants known for its fragrant white blooms. However, many gardeners face issues where their Mogra plant either doesn’t grow properly or fails to flower despite proper care. If you’re struggling with this, you’re not alone! Let’s address the most common Mogra plant problems with solutions to help your plant...
Read more

Planting Onions (from seed) in a Raised Bed

Image
It’s mid April and time to plant out the Onions I grew from seed in January. It’s a fairly simple process of removing the onions from their modules and planting out in a hole in the soil. There’s a few things you should know about transplanting onions: Prepare your raised beds with compost, either a) Dig a trench and add compost into it. Onions are shallow rooted so the roots will sit in the compost. OR b) Use the No Dig method and add to the top of the soil and rake it until it’s level with no clumps. The microorganisms and rain will take the nutrients into the soil. Plant your onions by removing from their cells, placing them out on the soil to find the spacing requirements. Then dig one hole per onion seedling to plant them in. Plant them in the soil from their modules and try not to disturb the roots. Plant level with the soil and back fill around the seedling with soil. Spacing – Give your onions room to breathe, when they get larger. Onions are shallow rooted but they don...
Read more

When and How to Give Fertilizer to Jasmine Plant for Maximum Flowering

Image
When and How to Give Fertilizer to Jasmine Plant   Fertilizers are essential for providing the necessary nutrients to the soil and plants to support optimal growth. When plants require fertilizers, they exhibit various symptoms, including: 1. Dull, faded, or curled leaves. 2. Stagnant or limited plant growth. 3. Withered or deteriorating plant condition. 4. Failure to form buds. 5. Bud formation without subsequent flower development. 6. Blooming flowers that lack fragrance. Jasmine Flower For Jasmine plants, regular pruning is recommended to encourage the growth of branches, buds, and flowers. To ensure the plant’s growth aligns with the desired pace, it’s important to match the nutrient requirements. Adjusting the dosage of different fertilizers based on the plant’s various growth phases is a key practice. When and How to Give Fertilizer to Jasmine Plant   During Growing phase of the plant During Flowering Phase of the Plant A. Growing phase of the pl...
Read more