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Re: Oxalis

Moira,

I checked with Katherine Pyle who was the person who brought up rust on
oxalis she had. It looks like she has rust which, until I checked on the
type of Oxalis, seemed a bit unusual. At least I had not heard it attacking
winter-growing Oxalis. Hers were types that start into growth in winter or
early Spring but they would still be growing during the warm months when, I
think, rust is more likely to occur. I made a check with an enthusiast in
South Florida and heard back that the problem is common there with its
warm, humid conditions. Maybe that is why I have not seen it with
winter-growing Oxalis species; they avoid the warmth and humidity together.
Grow them in cool winter conditions and leave them bone-dry all summer

If you grow bulbs that flower from October until about March (sorry, add 6
months for NZ)  and then are dormant until September (March, for NZ) rust
may be less likely to attack.

By any chance, are the cultivated forms you grow of this type?

Incidentally, I'm glad to see there is somebody happy to talk about the
nitty-gritty of growing plants, like how to handle rust.

>I can't of course say whether Oxalis rust occurs in California, but it
>is a fact of life here in New Zealand where it first appeared about 15
>years ago. Curiously I have not seen it on any of my cultivated forms,
>but it is common on several of the weed species especially  O latifolia.
>It can make them look very sick towards the end of the growing season,
>but alas, I fear it is not a killer!


Andrew
San Diego, California
awilson@fda.net
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