Orange Onions, Nudie Rudies and Questionable Crowns

Your questions answered

Do you have a food-growing question you’d like me to answer? Check out these guidelines to find out the best way to ask.

Spotted orange spring onions

Can you tell me what causes these orange spots on my spring onions? Are they safe to eat?

Louise, Sale, Vic

The orange spots are caused by rust fungus (Puccinia allii). Warm and humid conditions allow the disease to spread through allium plants such as onions and garlic.

Autumn is a time of ideal conditions for fungal diseases to proliferate. Dewy mornings can combine with warm days to create a perfect humidity storm. Spring is another high-risk time, when the warming weather and spring rainfall create ideal conditions for it to take hold in maturing garlic crops. I’m not seeing much in the way of fungal diseases in my own garden, but the humidity has probably been higher down your way in Gippsland.

The good news is that I can see the newer leaves are rust free. So perhaps the conditions have already cooled enough for the plant to start recovering. I’d monitor the crop. If it doesn’t recover, then consider removing it and starting again in a different spot. It’s fine to eat the leaves, but I’d focus on eating those that are symptom free.

I recently discussed an experiment I’m conducting this year to determine the best strategy for trying to prevent this disease in my garlic. Stay tuned for the results.

Nudie-rudie, netting-free fruit trees

I’m keen to know about any fruit tree varieties that don't need protection (from birds) that could be planted around the garden more freely. I'm thinking of loquats and the guavas and so on.

Ben S, Romsey, Vic