Pest identification
What's eating my 'red baron' onion?
Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci)
Signs: Silvery streaking on foliage; in hot dry summers, heavy infestations stunt leaf growth and dramatically reduce red bulb development.
Control: Fine insect netting. Maintain soil moisture — stressed plants are far more susceptible. Remove and compost (not bin) infested leaves promptly to reduce population.
Onion fly (Delia antiqua)
Signs: Grubs feed inside the bulb and at the stem base; plants yellow, keel over, and the bulb is slimy and rotten when pulled.
Control: Plant sets (not seed) and cover with mesh at planting. Avoid disturbing the soil near onions in late spring — the scent attracts laying females. Practice four-year crop rotation.
Allium leaf miner (Phytomyza gymnostoma)
Signs: White puncture dots in two rows along the leaf in spring (March–April) and autumn (October–November); larvae burrow into the bulb, causing storage rot.
Control: Cover with insect-proof mesh from late winter through mid-June; re-apply in September to October. Destroy infested plants rather than composting them.
Keep 'red baron' onion pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
'Red Baron' Onion pests — FAQ
What is eating my 'red baron' onion?
Red Baron Onion faces the same allium pest suite as other onions: thrips streak and silver the leaves, onion fly maggots rot stems and bulbs from below, and allium leaf miner creates entry points for decay. Rabbits and deer rarely trouble established alliums due to their strong scent, giving Red Baron a mild advantage in mixed gardens.
How do I get rid of onion thrips (thrips tabaci) on 'red baron' onion?
Silvery streaking on foliage; in hot dry summers, heavy infestations stunt leaf growth and dramatically reduce red bulb development. Fine insect netting. Maintain soil moisture — stressed plants are far more susceptible. Remove and compost (not bin) infested leaves promptly to reduce population.
How do I get rid of onion fly (delia antiqua) on 'red baron' onion?
Grubs feed inside the bulb and at the stem base; plants yellow, keel over, and the bulb is slimy and rotten when pulled. Plant sets (not seed) and cover with mesh at planting. Avoid disturbing the soil near onions in late spring — the scent attracts laying females. Practice four-year crop rotation.
How do I get rid of allium leaf miner (phytomyza gymnostoma) on 'red baron' onion?
White puncture dots in two rows along the leaf in spring (March–April) and autumn (October–November); larvae burrow into the bulb, causing storage rot. Cover with insect-proof mesh from late winter through mid-June; re-apply in September to October. Destroy infested plants rather than composting them.