Kitchen Garden Forum

This year our leeks (Musselburgh and Oarsman) seem to be completely free of rust. I am obviously not complaining but just wonder why? They have been sown around the same time, grown under roughly the same conditions - the only thing I could not control is the weather. So could that be the reason?

hi Monika

I think the scientific term that answers your leeks lack of rust is ................................................ aren't you the lucky one.

Mind you mine didn't get rust this year either .................................. but only cos I had to get rid because of leaf miner

Hi Monika!

Mine are pretty much rust free as well with just a few spots on the big ones that were harvested earlier, the rest seem OK but they're smaller. I'd be interested to know the answer as well, I don't quite understand some of the diseases that attack our crops & get well confused with the multitude of information when you search for answers, most of which doesn't relate to the UK.

My leeks are rust free but seem to have suffered tiny disease ,they are the smallest and thinnest ones I've ever grown

It's just so odd that we have had rust quite badly the last few years and none this year .......

No rust on my leeks either.
However the Zermat I grew this year all bolted.

Could it be because I started them off in the poly tunnel? (Then planted them outside).The tunnel has netting for the first two feet all round and netting, full height, on double doors at both ends.

Hi Gerry!

Could be the reason they bolted, even with the netting instead of the plastic it is a much warmer environment & they actually don't need any protection when young, I grow mine in a big pot under the patio table, then immediately cover them when they go on the plot in their own holes with environmesh to keep the leek moth & their gross babies tunnelling through them. It works for them but the rust is a mystery.