Onion tip burn: What causes onion tip burn?

Ah, the noble onion. Few of our favorite dishes would be as good without it. For the most part, these alliums are easy to grow and have few pests or problems; however, onion tip blight is a potential threat to yields. What causes onion tip blight? It may be a natural process in mature plants, but in young plants it may indicate a nutritional deficiency or fungal problem. The problem may also be cultural. Read on to answer the question «why are my onion tips burning» and find preventive measures and solutions.

What causes onion tip burning?

Wind, solar stress, excess soil salts and other environmental factors can cause onion tip burning. Soil pathogens or even a lack of an important nutrient may also be present. Considering all the potential causes of dark, dry foliage, it can be difficult to decide what is affecting the plant. The first thing to do is to decide if the growing and placement conditions are correct. If they are, the question may relate to an
mushrooms.
Investigating the causes of plant-related problems can be irritating. In many cases, it is sufficient to examine the soil and planting procedures. Onions need well-drained soil, lots of sunlight, good spacing, and lots of nitrogen and phosphorus. In very hot, sunny locations, it is not uncommon to see burns on the tips of the onions; however, providing shade will not reduce the incidence of burns on the tips of the onions.
Providing the necessary nitrogen can increase the salt content of the soil, causing brown spikes. A soil test is useful to see what macronutrients and micronutrients are in the soil, as too much nitrogen can cause the problem, but too little phosphorus too.

Insect burn and onion tip

Once you are sure that your soil and growing conditions are favourable, find out the causes of onion tip blight that may be right under your nose. Water stress can be a stimulus for thrips, the tiny, cigar-shaped larvae, or the slightly larger, winged, dark-coloured adults. They feed on the sap of the plant’s leaves and their behaviour can lead to discolouration of the leaf tips.
Temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit (30 C.) seem to favour the presence of thrips. Tentiform leafminer damage also favours onion tip blight. Use organic pesticides, such as neem oil, to control these small pests. Both are more common in early season crops, overcrowded stands and lack of crop rotation.

Mushroom tip burn on onions

Onion blight is a disease called fungus. Fusarium is a fungus that grows at the tips of leaves and causes them to turn brown and wilt. Eventually, the disease progresses to the blister. It is a fungus that is found in the soil. Botrytis also causes damage to leaves. It produces necrotic lesions that develop into tip burns and parasites.
Both fungi are present in areas of high moisture and high water content. Extreme heat seems to minimize their presence but temperatures below 80 degrees Fahrenheit (30 C.) seem to favour their activity. Early season sulphur sprays can help prevent damage from many fungal problems.