The bad news about leek rust

Leek rust is always worse after a wet winter. Or a wet summer the year before. So it's no surprise that this year it's a nightmare. Unfortunately there is no chemical (not even fancy organic stuff) available to control leek rust. After hours researching on line, all we could find was articles from commercial growers the world over wailing about how the professional fungicides they were using (so much stronger than the ones amateur gardeners can buy) were no use at all. As commercial garlic crops are affected by the same fungus, I have no doubt that the big multinational agrochemical companies are frantically working to find a cure, in the sure and certain knowledge that they will make billions from growers. So we can hope to see something in due course, but that's no consolation now.

Click here to go to our article on growing leeks