Onions/Fusarium/Tomatoes.....oh my!!!

beeman · August 5, 2013

I have read somewhere on the forum, by Naysen I believe, regarding planting tomatos over past onions rows to combat Fusarium.

My observations recently might be of interest to those suffering with Fusarium wilts.

I came to the 'Grafting Party' late in the year. Having tried a series of grafts, all of which failed, I was left with 6 heirloom plants which I didn't use. Rather than waste them I decided, rather late in the season,to plant in the hope of getting a sample of heirloom fruit that we could try, never having tried any. I have one Brandywine, one Paul Robeson, two Black Zebra, two Isis Candy, anxious to try them all, plus save some seeds.

My soil suffers with Fusarium and Corky Root Rot, still trying to find a cure, but this might be the answer.

All the plants were planted in a row that last year grew large onions, and strangely enough close to this years onion row, within 18 inches. Strictly accidental, certainly not planned, but looking at these plants it's obvious there is something different going on. These plants are quite magnificent, lots of foliage, dark green, flowering and setting fruit. Absolutely no signs of any wilts which are normally evident after the second truss, and these are above that already.

There is one observation. Our Fusarium normally strikes after a dry period, just after a good rain. I think, in spite of irrigation, the plants are starved of moisture, with the onset of a good soak the plants take great gulps of liquid and with it the Fusarium spores, as within a day or two wilting becomes evident. To date we haven't had a dry hot spell, quite the reverse in fact. So how this will affect the planting is not clear. Just being observant.

Comments are welcome, but I would hope others who suffer with Fusarium might pick this up and give it a try. Who knows we might finally have an answer to this scourge.
I will monitor my results and report later in the season.

z_willus_d · August 6, 2013

Hi Beeman,

Interesting observations. I'd run across something along these lines before, but since I am allergic to alliums, my motivation for growing them is quite low. I did a quick google search and came across the following related to this topic:
http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/ar...sp-lycopersici

I too would be interested in what others had to say on this topic.

Thanks for posting.
-naysen

August 5, 2013	#1
beeman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 692	Onions/Fusarium/Tomatoes.....oh my!!! I have read somewhere on the forum, by Naysen I believe, regarding planting tomatos over past onions rows to combat Fusarium. My observations recently might be of interest to those suffering with Fusarium wilts. I came to the 'Grafting Party' late in the year. Having tried a series of grafts, all of which failed, I was left with 6 heirloom plants which I didn't use. Rather than waste them I decided, rather late in the season,to plant in the hope of getting a sample of heirloom fruit that we could try, never having tried any. I have one Brandywine, one Paul Robeson, two Black Zebra, two Isis Candy, anxious to try them all, plus save some seeds. My soil suffers with Fusarium and Corky Root Rot, still trying to find a cure, but this might be the answer. All the plants were planted in a row that last year grew large onions, and strangely enough close to this years onion row, within 18 inches. Strictly accidental, certainly not planned, but looking at these plants it's obvious there is something different going on. These plants are quite magnificent, lots of foliage, dark green, flowering and setting fruit. Absolutely no signs of any wilts which are normally evident after the second truss, and these are above that already. There is one observation. Our Fusarium normally strikes after a dry period, just after a good rain. I think, in spite of irrigation, the plants are starved of moisture, with the onset of a good soak the plants take great gulps of liquid and with it the Fusarium spores, as within a day or two wilting becomes evident. To date we haven't had a dry hot spell, quite the reverse in fact. So how this will affect the planting is not clear. Just being observant. Comments are welcome, but I would hope others who suffer with Fusarium might pick this up and give it a try. Who knows we might finally have an answer to this scourge. I will monitor my results and report later in the season.

August 6, 2013	#2
z_willus_d Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Eastern Suburb of Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,313	Hi Beeman, Interesting observations. I'd run across something along these lines before, but since I am allergic to alliums, my motivation for growing them is quite low. I did a quick google search and came across the following related to this topic: http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/ar...sp-lycopersici I too would be interested in what others had to say on this topic. Thanks for posting. -naysen