Such a useful post - thank you! We get the miner in the UK now, where it's extending its range annually. I have had a few leeks damaged but am preparing to see more. I find it tricky as I grow polycultures rather than beds of alliums which makes it less easy to protect and have lots of autumn sown onions. I really hate the idea of having to net everything, so trialling different combos of companion crops and using a mix of varieties.....
Good luck. Let us know if you find something that works. The Rodale Institute has an article on their site saying something about a cover crop from the Brassica family before planting onions. That doesn't really work on my small scale, but it may be worth looking up for you.
I never had them in the Alps, but now do, in southeastern Austria. They love my leeks. Welsh onions seem to be uninteresting for them, so that's my focus this year.
Really appreciate this article and the location and soil information right on top! Everyone should do this. (I will too!) Often I'm reading garden articles and have no idea where they're writing from and have to guess. As for allium leaf miner I haven't seen them here yet in southern Sweden where we have lots of food and plant imports from Poland but I'm only 3 years in with no veg growing neighbours. All my alliums were instead eaten up completely by slugs last year. This year I'm trying again with earlier, more mature transplants. There's been a lot of mole activity and I hope they have eaten a lot of slug eggs already.
Oh no! I should have sat on this post and proofread it several more times before sending it out. I found a bad link and some spelling mistakes that the spell checker didn't flag. 🤦♀️
I have had more and more of a problem with this in recent years. last year lost almost half of my garlic. I planted less garlic last year, only about a dozen, but I would like to protect them. I am in the same neighborhood as you so I am already late by your calculation. Where do you get the netting that you use?
The product is called "insect netting" and you can get it anywhere online. Johnny's Selected Seeds is one source. You will also need hoops tall enough to cover the garlic, as it grows quite tall. I have 4' tall hoops. I buy insect netting that is 10' wide and cut it to the length of my beds. That gives enough width to cover the 4' hoops and have enough extra width to anchor it to the ground. I use rocks to anchor the net to the ground. You can also use landscape staples. If you only want to dedicate a small space to growing Alliums, this may not be worth it economically. If I maintained a smaller garden, I wouldn't bother with Alliums. I'd just grow something else. We all have different priorities, though. If you absolutely must grow Alliums for joy or sentimental reasons, go for it!
Excellent info. I was not aware of this pest and will be sure to inspect my chives more closely. My family in MA may also find this to be of interest. Thank you!
When I was growing up, my mom was a master gardener who put in a few hours with the county extension office every week. This was back in the day before internet and digital cameras when you'd bring a sample of your plant in to a person to ask what was wrong, and that person would go through books if they didn't know off the top of their head.
We still do that in my county, although fewer folks come in person. Most email questions to hotline. Some phone the hotline. I mostly volunteer as a speaker and at “Ask as Master Gardener” tables on occasion.
Thank you for this information. With the photos and details you shared, it's clear that this is what has been attacking my leeks and scallions. (I thought it was leek moth caterpillars.) The one thing you didn't mention is the horrible smell of badly infected plants. Now I need to figure out how to control this awful pest without insecticides. I'm not well organized enough to use row covers (and I don't want to import more synthetics into my garden anyway).
Such a useful post - thank you! We get the miner in the UK now, where it's extending its range annually. I have had a few leeks damaged but am preparing to see more. I find it tricky as I grow polycultures rather than beds of alliums which makes it less easy to protect and have lots of autumn sown onions. I really hate the idea of having to net everything, so trialling different combos of companion crops and using a mix of varieties.....
Good luck. Let us know if you find something that works. The Rodale Institute has an article on their site saying something about a cover crop from the Brassica family before planting onions. That doesn't really work on my small scale, but it may be worth looking up for you.
I never had them in the Alps, but now do, in southeastern Austria. They love my leeks. Welsh onions seem to be uninteresting for them, so that's my focus this year.
That's interesting. No scars at all on the leaves? I might try some here.
Nope, no scars. I think it has to do with strong scent and tougher leaves.
My Welsh onions were completely devastated by black onion aphids - can't win!
Really appreciate this article and the location and soil information right on top! Everyone should do this. (I will too!) Often I'm reading garden articles and have no idea where they're writing from and have to guess. As for allium leaf miner I haven't seen them here yet in southern Sweden where we have lots of food and plant imports from Poland but I'm only 3 years in with no veg growing neighbours. All my alliums were instead eaten up completely by slugs last year. This year I'm trying again with earlier, more mature transplants. There's been a lot of mole activity and I hope they have eaten a lot of slug eggs already.
Thanks very much, I wish everyone would include their location as well, or anything else that affects their gardening practice.
Oh no! I should have sat on this post and proofread it several more times before sending it out. I found a bad link and some spelling mistakes that the spell checker didn't flag. 🤦♀️
I have had more and more of a problem with this in recent years. last year lost almost half of my garlic. I planted less garlic last year, only about a dozen, but I would like to protect them. I am in the same neighborhood as you so I am already late by your calculation. Where do you get the netting that you use?
thanks for this post
The product is called "insect netting" and you can get it anywhere online. Johnny's Selected Seeds is one source. You will also need hoops tall enough to cover the garlic, as it grows quite tall. I have 4' tall hoops. I buy insect netting that is 10' wide and cut it to the length of my beds. That gives enough width to cover the 4' hoops and have enough extra width to anchor it to the ground. I use rocks to anchor the net to the ground. You can also use landscape staples. If you only want to dedicate a small space to growing Alliums, this may not be worth it economically. If I maintained a smaller garden, I wouldn't bother with Alliums. I'd just grow something else. We all have different priorities, though. If you absolutely must grow Alliums for joy or sentimental reasons, go for it!
Excellent info. I was not aware of this pest and will be sure to inspect my chives more closely. My family in MA may also find this to be of interest. Thank you!
Here's a link from UMASS
https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/vegetable/fact-sheets/leafminer-allium
Fascinating.
And thanks for shouting out the county extension service. Not enough people know about this amazing resource.
Yes, that's unfortunate. Extension is such a great resource.
When I was growing up, my mom was a master gardener who put in a few hours with the county extension office every week. This was back in the day before internet and digital cameras when you'd bring a sample of your plant in to a person to ask what was wrong, and that person would go through books if they didn't know off the top of their head.
We still do that in my county, although fewer folks come in person. Most email questions to hotline. Some phone the hotline. I mostly volunteer as a speaker and at “Ask as Master Gardener” tables on occasion.
Thank you for this information. With the photos and details you shared, it's clear that this is what has been attacking my leeks and scallions. (I thought it was leek moth caterpillars.) The one thing you didn't mention is the horrible smell of badly infected plants. Now I need to figure out how to control this awful pest without insecticides. I'm not well organized enough to use row covers (and I don't want to import more synthetics into my garden anyway).
Good luck. Let us know if you find something that works.
Good information.