Where is essex? YOur climate may be the main factor. If you are in the U.S., every county nationwide has County Extension Services where they keep abreast of all local problems, and their service is free.
I don't know about the U.K. or Canada, but I suspect they have similar services.

* * * *

Dave
Even my growlights are getting restless!

Try spraying with baking soda. Fungi generally prefer acid conditions and baking soda is alkaline. It may help stop the spread of fungus problems you already have, but it's best when you spray it as a preventive before the fungi gains a foothold. Seaweed foliar sprays or compost teas are also beneficial. I believe you use 1 tablespoon baking soda per gallon of water, but I'm not at home, so I can't verify that.

* * * *

Terry

May the force be with you

Sure, markr; I should be home by Monday or Tuesday.

* * * *

Terry

May the force be with you

not sure about the romans, but the local council have planted thousands! must be trying to keep up with them. they left plenty of under me allotment too, cant dig to deep dont know what i"ll find?... thats the romans not the council neck rot isnt a problem yet

* * * *

Mark

my soil is sandy and i think we have the lowest rainfall in england? i water by hand at least everyother day in summer

* * * *

Mark

it looks more grey like the 3rd picture, but by description it sounds like downy mildew to me, great to see it on a page like that, its better than my books! its a great help. be going back there again to see more,,, thanks

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Mark

so when is it best to start?
at first sign
before.
is it a single aplication, or will i have to use it weekly?

* * * *

Mark

ok thanks again terry.

* * * *

Mark

This past fall I bought 50 lbs of onion and split it with my MIL. Normally they keep well through the winter, but with this batch, it's not so great, almost every onion bulb has this grayish or black powder on the skins, and when they are peeled, they are going bad inside. Over here in Canada, our summer was very wet, so I guess we can attribute the mouldy onions to that. Good luck in fixing the problem with yours.

Hi Limey
just read your post about jeyes,
dont think it will work because a lot of the
old boys over the allotment use jeyes,
and they seem to get it before me.
I think it may help for the white mould we get around the roots' which is quite bad because they wont store, just rot.
i will take a look at robinson's though!
i used to grow kelsea a few years ago,
used to get them upto 6lb.
miss growing them!
wanted to get them bigger, but theres no way until i cure my problem.

* * * *

Mark

Mark,
Do you plant your crops in the exact place
every year or do you rotate them from year to year???

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2





http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

Got it!!!
It's hard to have yours in check
if everyone else's isn't!!!

Do you have contact with everyone??
My one suggestion would be for everyone
to stop growing it for a year or two???

Might help???
Don't know exactly!!!!

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2





http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

Mark, I've been doing some more research and here are some other natural fungal sprays that might help.

1. Add 1 cup alfalfa meal to 1 gallon of water in a bucket. After a few hours, strain the mixture through cheesecloth. Add a dash of biodegradable dishwashing liquid to help the tea stick and spray the plants.

2. Cut or tear 1/2 cup rhubarb leaves (about 6 leaves) into small pieces. Place the leaves in 3 quarts of water and bring to a rolling boil. Steep the leaves for at least an hour or overnight. Shred the boiled leaves further in a blender, if desired. Strain the solution through a cheesecloth and pour into a spray bottle to spray plants.

3. Steep 3 cloves garlic (crushed), 1 onion (peeled and minced), and 1 teaspoon jalapeno peppper (crushed) in warm water for 1 hour or longer. Strain through cheesecloth. In the spray bottle, dilute 1 part of the strained liquid with 4 parts warm water and add 1 droop dishwashing liquid or 2 tablespoons horticultural oil. Mist plants lightly.

4. Chamomile tea works against damping-off fungi that attack seedlings, perhaps it would work on other types of fungi also. 1 tea bag per cup of boiling water. Let steep till it cools to room temperature. Spray.

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Terry

May the force be with you

Tammy, when using chamomile tea for damping off, use it to water the plants as opposed to spraying.

* * * *

Terry

May the force be with you

Hi folks,
When you buy your onion seeds from any catalogue it gives you the name and a short discription (round,flat,large,sweet....)it also says good keepers overwinter keeping and also SHORT TERM STORAGE watch what you buy
Dave

think i might have to aquire a witches couldren for my shed then!
dont think i will be allowed near the cooker with that lot,,,

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Mark

Sure will, looking forward to growing them again now,,,,
thanks all.

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Mark