Can rusty leek leaves be composted?
Or should they be chucked into the wheelie bin?

And why does rust occur?
Is it the long dry spell?
--
Chris

In article ], Chris ] wrote:
Can rusty leek leaves be composted?

Yes. Despite what most articles and books say, few (if any) rust
spores are soil-borne, and they are so ubiquitous that your leeks
WILL get exposed. What you want to avoid is leaving rusty material
around new plants - and it's only the Allium genus that is affected
by this one. So composting is fine, provided that the rusty leaves
are well covered before any new leeks arrive.

Or should they be chucked into the wheelie bin?

No point, despite what all the pundits say.

And why does rust occur?
Is it the long dry spell?

Yup. It weakens the plants and is associated with warm evenings
(which, in the UK, are always humid). That's my guess as to the
cause, incidentally.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.