Kitchen Garden Forum

Harvested some leeks today and they all had brown stains in them and a small hole in them,apart from that they looked healthy,good size,clean leaf,healthy roots,could you tell me what it might be please.

Are there any small brown grubs at the bottom of the holes, if you peel one away ? If so, I have them too, and I think the culprit is Leek moth.

Yes i think there is Tony,is there any action to be taken? thanks Jeff

Aside from using environmesh next year ? I don't think so. If I peel away the outer layers, I am left with a bit that's useable with mine. I have some that were grown under mesh so should be ok, I'll save them to last using the affected ones first in case the grubs are still burrowing

Allium Leaf Miner. Affects all alliums, Leeks, Onions, Garlic.

Once at its strongest in southern England, now spreading across the country. Some reports of commercial growers becoming affected.

Currently no effective sprays or insecticides.

Digging ground over late autumn may let frosts get to pupae. Crop rotation may help avoid annual build up.
Infected parts of crops should be removed from site, NOT composted on site

Just found this BBC page which gives preventative suggestions and may assist.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/advice/p ... iner_moths

Sounds very daunting,will keep an eye on it,thanks again Tony and Pa Snip

Hi Jeff

Allium Leaf Miners are very different to the basic Leaf Miners. The RHS have some advice https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=643 but they are an absolute nightmare. We've suffered from them for some years now and despite covering the leeks this year, we still got hammered. All our leeks are now up, stripped of bad bits, blanched and frozen. If you leave them in the ground once they're attacked, they quickly rot and stink like gone off pickled onions.

Good luck

Hi Chantal, thanks for the info., i appear to be the only one on the allotments that has them ,so i will try my best to eradicate them for next year. Thanks again to you all. Jeff

When I get rust on the leeks I cut the tops off down to 1" above the white section the leaves grow back and usually free of rust