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survive the winter on the host plants to emerge in the spring and continue the cycle.
Chemical control is unavailable to the amateur gardener. Covering the crop with horticultural eece may help. Use crop rotations, raise plants under cover before transplanting the young leeks in the open ground. Transplanting later after the main threat from the y has passed and lifting in the early autumn may help. Avoid accepting gifts of plants or buying plants from other sources to reduce the
risk of introducing the pest into your garden. Keep the growing site scrupulously clean at all times.
Leek Rust
Leek rust (Puccinia porri syn). Puccinia allii) is a fungal infection that can attack chives, garlic and onions and all other members of the allium family, but is particularly debilitating to leeks. Attacks of leek rust are rst seen as bright orange pustules/spots on both sides of the leaves. There is no danger whilst they are enclosed within the leaf surface but when the pustules swell and break open, the airborne spores are released to land on other plants.
There are no effective chemical controls available to the amateur gardener. But there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of an attack. An infection is worse on over rich soils especially if they are high in nitrogen – N and low in potassium – K. This can be remedied by controlling the levels of nutrients available when preparing the site intended to be used for growing leeks.
Good air circulation is essential between the leek plants as leeks produce plenty of large leaves. Spacing them at least 30 cms/12 inches apart in the row and leaving 30 cms/12 inches between rows will help to overcome any chances of damp, still, stale air lying between the plants.
Be vigilant and inspect plants, looking for the rst sign of an attack of leek rust. Clear up any damaged or infected leaves and destroy them. Leek rust can only survive on living material. This means that an outbreak won’t kill any plants but will dis gure the leaves and suppress the leeks growth. It doesn’t, however, make the plants unusable, but certainly ruins them for show growers.
One tip passed on by Medwyn Williams, the famous show grower and Chelsea prize-winner, is to apply a blob of petroleum jelly to the rust spots or swollen pustules as soon as they are discovered. This can help to prevent the disease from spreading further.
IT’S YOUR MAGAZINE!
Opportunities for you to feature in the next edition!!
Please send in your
article/s. No more
than 600 words
please (we reserve
the right to edit
longer articles)
along with lively,
good quality
images (1MB if
possible). Please
attach the photo release form when sending
in images; this is downloadable on the website in the downloads and resources section and in the magazine section of the members area.
Deadline for ALG2 2016 is 4th March 2016.
Favourite Herbs
You will notice over the forthcoming editions that we are featuring a ‘herb of the season’ article. Issue 2 will be Chives. Do you grow chives on your allotment or in your garden? Do you have any fresh new recipes you would like to share? Send them in. We can include them with this relevant feature. Please do include any photos of your recipe or even a photo of yourself for us to include! If you prefer to stay anonymous that is ne too.
Flowers
Are blooms for you? Are owers your preferred plant to grow on your plot? Whether it is companion planting, helping bees and wildlife develop or just because you like owers – let us know why you grow them.
Send us your tips Tips! Tips! Tips!
A quick recipe, quirky invention or humorous anecdote. It only takes a few minutes to email us! Send them through.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Submission details on page 3.
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ALLOTMENT & LEISURE GARDENER • Issue42015
Inside: Seasonal jobs to do – p10 •
Q&A – p12 Book Reviews – p14 • Christmas Gifts – p20 Nomination Forms enclosed
ALG Issue 4 2015.indd 1
19/10/2015
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