possible cure for white rot..

[majorcatfish]

over the 2 years our garlic harvests has been getting worse and worse to the point why plant. did a lot of reading found out that we have white rot..

where it came from "the certified"seed garlic that we had purchased, was it from poor handling and storing on our part? who knows...

after reading a couple very interesting articles on white rot..
http://westernfarmpress.com/garlic-and-onion-industry-targets-white-rot-cure

http://www.cagarlicandonion.com/resources/newsletter/download-asset/id/195/recid/21
decided to give it a try been saving up all the ends and pieces of onions over the winter and all the garlic that we thought was good, which was contaminated . placed them in hot water to kill any possible spores and then ran them through the food processor.

then tossed and raked them into the affected soil ...

if you did not the articles the idea is to trick the spores into thinking that you have planted garlic, this ingenious idea has a lot of merit. once the spores think you have garlic/onions in the ground they are going to germination but once there is no host for them the new spores have no new food they die off...
pretty dang cool.... you need at least need to read the first article.

let me know what you think about this method...

 

[Ridgerunner]

No, you tell us what you think of this method later, after your next crop. Interesting. I wish you luck.

 

[thistlebloom]

Whew, that white rot is scary stuff! The spores can live in the soil for thirty years??!!

Interesting that the article said you could also use garlic oil or powder to trick the spores into germination. I wonder if that is the same powder that you use in cooking?

Your method certainly sounds plausible Major. Will you follow it up with solarization or some other alternate method? The article said the spores can survive under adverse conditions, but I wonder what it would do to them if you flamed the soil?

This is very interesting, keep us updated on what you find.

 

[majorcatfish]

@Ridgerunner will retreat the area again this fall using this same method possible another year as well, you have to agree why spend good money if all your going to end up with is a waste of time.it's a very interesting idea, we home gardeners have access to the chemicals that the large commercial growers have.which is possibly a good idea.
@thistlebloom planning on using the area for cucumbers this year so solarization is out, but once done thats a possible once retreated.

and yes will repost ....always like the idea of using natural cures over chemicals....

 

[journey11]

Very cool. Kind of like vaccinating the soil. Can't wait to see how this turns out.

 

[majorcatfish]

Very cool. Kind of like vaccinating the soil. Can't wait to see how this turns out.

exactly a vaccine for a cure..... like your positive thinking.

 

[majorcatfish]

No, you tell us what you think of this method later, after your next crop. Interesting. I wish you luck.

was wondering @Ridgerunner, you being a great gardener and full of excellent ideas what would you do in this situation that i have?

 

[so lucky]

Good luck on your experiment, major.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Wow. No one has said anything that nice about me since....... well, I'm not sure. I imagine someone once did.

What would I do in that situation other than cry? I'm not familiar with that white rot and all I've read about it is your two links. Nasty stuff. Crying might not be an unreasonable approach.

I think what I'd do is a lot like you have done. Figure out what is causing the problem. You've done that. Research to see what the possible treatments are. You've done that. Then decide on a course of action. Do I give up growing garlic and onions forever? Can I find a method of treatment within my financial and physical abilities that I am willing to try? Sounds like you've done that.

I'd try to stop the spread, which may not be easy. Like that article said, sanitation. Don't spread dirt from one area to another, either through equipment or muddy boots. Don't compost stuff from an infected area. I'd think burning in place would be acceptable but if you transport it to a burn area, spores would likely drop on the way. You may have gotten that just from walking through an area that was infected, maybe even a store, and carried it home on your shoes. A delivery truck may have come from a place that was infested before they visited you and had muddy tires. Be very careful trading seeds with other people and do not give anyone starts with dirt on them. There is just no telling where it came from.

What do I expect to happen with your treatment? You'll probably reduce the concentration of that spore enough that you can get one or two decent harvests, then you'll probably have to do it again. That method does not eradicate it, just reduces the concentration of the spores. One of those articles said this was used in conjunction with another treatment. I assume that meant one of those chemicals. if you see any plant showing the symptoms when you do plant, immediately remove and dispose of that plant. Don't give it time to make mores pores.

I have trouble being very positive about that stuff. It's nasty and I like my onions and garlic.

 

[majorcatfish]

@Ridgerunner have to agree about sanitation and i will be the first to raise a hand on not doing a great job of it... and crying over this will not to solve the problem, what's done is done now on to solving the problem..

short of having a kosher wash out station at every garden or broughing a cobalt reactor chamber to sterilise every implement, it's going to be a battle for me but i love a challenge.

the chemicals they use dads "diallyl disulfide" is not available to the home gardener so going to use the trick the spores method.. the nice thing about using this method is you can still grow other crops while combating the spores, it's still a win win approach.

thank you very much for your input...
mc