Get rid of onion diseases the easy way

Moses Njagi, a trader at Marikiti market in Nairobi repacks bulb onions into smaller quantities on August 25, 2021. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Neck Rot
Neck rot is a disease that affects onions after harvest during transportation or storage. The disease manifests itself through sunken spots and collapsed tissues around the neck of the onion bulb. Infected necks soon appear dried out, and a gray mold often occurs between the scales on the collapsed areas. Infection by the neck rot fungus often is followed by a watery soft rot of the bulb. Neck rot is controlled by proper post-harvest handling. Control of this disease is to store properly the harvested bulbs in a cool and dry environment with a temperature of 32°F. Field practices for prevention of neck rot include close plant spacing (12 plants per foot) and use nitrogen fertiliser in moderation. In addition, cut the tops close to the bulb during harvesting.