From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Watlington, UK

That's really tough to take on board considering the time and money spent on sterilising the soil. Are you not considering a fungicide or is it too late for that?

7/10/2026 6:07:21 AM

Westmoreland, KS

damn hate freaking fusarium!

7/10/2026 8:35:36 AM

Lymington UK

There’s no cure for fusarium Gerald.

7/10/2026 9:28:33 AM

Grittyville, WA

Nasty disease! John Kempf says manganese:


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rNSJ8xMjMBA

@22:35

[Last edit: 07/10/26 9:11:39 PM]

7/10/2026 3:43:00 PM

Grittyville, WA

Which does jive with the soil test measuring it as low... I think the plants may use up their manganese fighting it the same way we use up our vitamin C when we get a cold. In either case the sooner the reserves run out, the sooner the disease wins. I hope you don't give up even though there may be no reversing the damage. Seems you could blast one with foliar manganese and see if it stalls the disease. I probably will be doing the same, I'm dealing with it too!

7/10/2026 3:56:16 PM

Everett, WA

Ian, I don't know if you've ever met Heber Hall, but after reading your thoughts on Fusarium, I immediately thought of him. He has spent decades helping commercial growers troubleshoot root-zone diseases, plant nutrition, biological systems, and hydroponic production. He and Joe Ailts recently had a fascinating discussion about Fusarium:
https://youtu.be/xpY8FMGBC5A?si=CBjCgTzJkMQgRpTr
One thing that really caught my attention is that Heber believes Fusarium isn't necessarily a death sentence. He discusses cases where, by changing the biology in the root zone including using carbon sources like sugars to stimulate beneficial microbes he has seen plants recover from Fusarium rather than simply slowing its progression. It's a very different way of looking at the disease. He could explain more...he has been helping a bunch of USA growers. He might suggest to give it sugar at the roots - unsulphured or if you don't have that brown sugar (bc it too has molasses in it).

Heber is incredibly approachable and generous with his knowledge. If you're interested, I think you'd really enjoy comparing notes with him. You can also reach him through Pure Land Hydroponics:

https://purelandhydroponics.farm/blog/author/wmd/

I just thought of you when I heard the discussion and figured it might make for an interesting conversation between two people with a lot of experience.

7/10/2026 5:56:02 PM

Everett, WA

https://purelandhydroponics.farm/product/understanding-fusarium-in-non-field-high-density-and-contained-media-cropping/

7/10/2026 5:56:58 PM

Alaska

Stem sterilizing the soil is an effective way of killing and controlling it. I brought this up many years ago here on a live chat. When I was in high school I had a summer job at a nursery/greenhouse that used steam to heat their greenhouses. They made/mixed their own soil and that's how they sterilized it. We'd mix it up send it down a chute into a bin/box with perforated steam pipes on the bottom. Throw a heavy tarp over the top and steam the shit out of it. Of course you can't do anything like that now but it's something to think about in the future.

7/10/2026 6:06:03 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Have just completed the sugar flush idea in my patch. After 4" of rain last week a robust re-inoculation of bacillus might work wonders. Perhaps also a quick hit of IBA or NAA. However, this is an indirect effect meant to strengthen the host plant, roots rather than a direct treatment on the fungus itself

7/10/2026 6:30:54 PM

Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley, Quebec, Canada

But if you kill it all how can it return every year?

7/10/2026 9:49:03 PM

C N Y

Are the drip lines being used for anything other than water?
I think last year, fertilizing ceased at a certain date. Asking for a friend. eric g

7/11/2026 1:35:01 AM

Lymington UK

My drip lines are just for water now

7/11/2026 2:41:46 PM

C N Y

Thx. eg

7/12/2026 3:50:52 AM

Everett, WA

https://youtu.be/xpY8FMGBC5A?si=6Xq1NPmPfclq2j86

7/12/2026 10:16:47 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I hate fusarium with a passion! Once it's in the patch it's all about keeping it pushed back as long as you can. It eventually wins but we hope to push that as far as we can...

Sorry Ian.

7/13/2026 8:40:22 AM