Yellowing shallots

[Catherine]

My shallots have been yellowing steadily for several weeks. The tips of the shallots are yellow now for about three to four inches. And today I have found that the row of onions next to the shallots have started to go yellow. Any suggestions please.

[Beryl]

I would lift one to see if you have White Rot or Onion Eel worm on the base. The Eel worm is very hard to see with the naked eye but you will find the roots have been eaten away. Any sign of disease I would destroy them and don't compost.
If all looks good then could be deficiency in the soil and good feed might help with something like chicken manure.

Beryl.

[John]

Hello Catherine
I agree with Beryl - check on the plants for white rot. The plant will also be loose in the soil. It is early for this condition which usually shows from mid-summer onwards.
Otherwise it could be a magnesium deficiency. This is easy to cure with a watering of Epsom salt solution. Epsom salts or simply 'Magnesium' is widely available in garden centres. I would give them a dose anyway as it won't do any harm. You should see an improvement quite quickly if this is the cause of the problem.

Hope this helps

John

[Nature's Babe]

Were they autumn or spring sown, and what size are they ? If autumn sown, after the very early spring and lots of sunshine could they just be maturing early?

[Catherine]

Good morning. I will check my shallots for damage later if the rain stops (torrential at the moment) I will also go and give them a feed of chicken manure.

NB they were spring sown shallots, I haven't grown shallots for several years as we did not have much luck if I remember last time.

I did wonder if they were suffering because of the cold weather as my butternuts and courgettes are still slow at getting going and are really quite yellow on the leaves, so are my dwarf beans.

Thank you for your help. I have a big box of Epsom salts in the shed but it is an old box and the writing has worn off, do you think that this will be unusable? Should I get some fresh and if so what is the measurement per watering can.

This has to be the worst year I have ever had for growth.

[John]

Hello Catherine
Epsom salts do not deteriorate with age so your old stuff will be fine to use. Recommended dilutions vary widely from 1/2 tsp to 2 tbs (6 tsp) to the gallon. For onions and shallots I think 2 (level) tsp per gallon should be fine.
If you see a significant improvement then give them another dose in about 10 days time.
Shallots and onions are not bothered by cool weather.

John

[Nature's Babe]

Amazing how different the weather can be in different parts of the country, we had a very early summer, obviously much colder where you are. Still warmish here but a lot wetter, stuff is growing though.