Local Onion Growers Asked To Watch For Thrips, Nematodes

While the figures have not been as high as past seasons, onion growers are asked to watch are fields for thrips.  Washington State University’s Tim Waters said onion thrips numbers have been increasing over the past couple of weeks.

“It’s important to control those now, early to mid-season, because that damage that occurs early and now is what really limits the bulb size later in the season, it also mitigates the spread of yellow spot virus.”

Waters said when temperatures go up, thrips numbers can increase very rapidly.  He recommended that growers conduct smaller spray intervals this time of year to combat thrips.  He said a seven to ten day spray interval works best.

Waters added they’ve also received calls about nematode problems.

“Growers need to be watching for nematodes too, and sampling.  And that’s typically something we do before the season, or very early season, but we’ve seen some fields affected by nematodes, and then fusarium basal rot.  So, on both of those things, it’s really important that we control water, we don’t want to over water, especially for fusarium basal rot, and then rotation intervals,” Waters said.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com