My chives...what's happening to them?

Discussion in 'Plant Pests, Diseases and Weeds' started by tschnath, Aug 7, 2008.

  1. tschnath

    tschnath In Flower

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    Does anyone know what could be wrong with my chives. They have little spots on them, but they don't look like they are being eaten. I'm having a wicked problem with Japanese beetles this year and I've just gotten some traps to put out for them.

    In the mean time, the chives don't look like the other plants (eaten, with holes) so I'm not sure what it is.

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  3. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    It looks like Puccinia allii to me.
     
  4. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    Is that the same as leek rust Sjoerd?
     
  5. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Yes it is, Eileen. Sorry for sounding so esoteric, but I figured that the latin name was the same in all languages.
    Heh heh heh... I had to think for a moment, though. After thinking about it, the translated common name in dutch translates to what you said. :D Sometimes I can be a bit thick.
     



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  6. tschnath

    tschnath In Flower

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    OK, so I tried to look it up and I'm getting nothing...so to speak. What can I do about it? Are they still ok to eat? I've been just cutting around it, but I'd like to fix the problem if it's a problem that can be fixed. Any ideas?
     
  7. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    If I can catch it early, I just cut off the infected leaves and destroy them. Otherwise I do not combat it and see what happens. Sometimes it develops enough to harvest, but it can weaken the plant and severely hamper the it's development to the point that it can kill it.

    If you are not totally an organic gardner, you can use tebuconazole, a chemical fungicise from Bayer under the name of "Horizon EW", I believe.
    You could also use Nativo 75 WG (tebuconazole 50 %, trifloxystrobine 25 %)

    Good luck, "T".
     
  8. tschnath

    tschnath In Flower

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    Thanks Sjoerd, I try not to use the chemicals because of DD#2 (who's 4) and neighbors children along with pets around. So I'll just wait it out. I remember it happening last year also but it was late in the season so I didn't bother with it at all.

    Unfortunately it's been a really busy summer this year and I'm embarressed to say I've neglected my garden too much. Thanks for the info though I wasn't having any luck online.
     
  9. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    I get that rust some years on my leeks and usually just remove the leaves and the plants do mature in spite of it.
    I always wonder though if they would have been bigger polants if the rust had not struck.
     

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