Onion Fly

[Bren]

Anyone out there having trouble with the onion fly this early in the season, quiet a few on the allotment here in the West Midlands have this problem at the moment, the leaves bent over touching the ground,
One chap pulled one or two and took a look, it looked like onion rust he followed it to the roots and found a tiny insect.
We have sprayed ours don't know if it will help, these onions were all from sets, it hasn't affected the ones grown from seed so far.

Bren

[Tigger]

Not yet, but I won't hold my breath.....

[retropants]

can you please tell me, what are onion flies and what do they do?
Thanks, Emma.

[Bren]

Emma

Not sure what they look like,lots of maggots burrow into the onion and they rot. I put onion fly up on Google and they said they were like little grey house flies, hopefully you won't get them.

Bren

[Beryl]

Sounds like what we know as the leek moth.
They burrow into the leeks (and onions) and leave the plant looking all tatty and ragged. They tend to go slimey and rot. With leeks they can be cut back and they will regrow but not as big - still usuable tho'. Not sure if you could do the same with onions.
I'm growing under enviromesh this year as an experiment.

Beryl.

[retropants]

Thanks Bren,
I don't think we have (sigh of relief!) The autumn planted sets are starting to go over, but I guess that is because they are almost ready, they are nice and fat!
Emma.