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Cabbage root fly maggots - do they come back?

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  • #1

    Cabbage root fly maggots - do they come back?


    Last summer I had a horrible time with cabbage root fly maggots - they killed off my purple sprouting broccoli and cabbages, as well as some kohl rabbi.


    Not wanting to give up on brassicas completely because I really do like eating spring cabbage, I thought I'd try some in Morrisons flower buckets. Six out of eight of them over-wintered okay - this picture was taken yesterday. After planting the seedlings into the buckets last October or whenever it was, I put collar thingies round them to hopefully repel the maggots.

    I'm not quite sure when these cabbages will be ready to eat - the end of April perhaps? I'd like to let them grow as large as possible. But what I'd really like to know is, is there a danger that with the temperatures warming up outside over the next month or so (one can but live in hope!!), will these horrible maggots come back? Also, I haven't fed the cabbages at all ... Should I be giving them anything? Any advice much appreciated - thank you!
    Diagonally parked in a parallel universe!
    www.croila.net - "Human beans"
    Tags: cabbage root fly maggot, spring cabbages
  • #2
    Can you not put cardboard around the base to stop them?

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    • #3
      It's not that you repel the maggots with the collars: the adult lays its eggs near to the plant stem. If there is a barrier there (a collar) the eggs dry out and die

      Cabbages are pretty hungry plants, are you feeding them?
      Last edited by Two_Sheds; 14-03-2011, 03:07 PM.
      All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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      • #4
        Hmmmm ... So, I guess I should just leave the existing collars on them, then, yes? (Thank you for your replies! )
        Diagonally parked in a parallel universe!
        www.croila.net - "Human beans"

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        • #5
          Yes, leave the collars in place. Here's a bit more info: http://www.which.co.uk/documents/pdf...fly-151755.pdf
          Last edited by Two_Sheds; 14-03-2011, 03:25 PM.
          All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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          • #6
            Gosh, thanks - that's a really good pdf! Oh how horrible these insects are, how absolutely HORRIBLE. But still, I'm going to try cabbages again.
            Diagonally parked in a parallel universe!
            www.croila.net - "Human beans"

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            • #7
              I net all my brassicas with enviromesh so that they avoid cabbage white catepillars, cabbage white flies and bird damage. Three in one is always good

              Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

              Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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              • #8
                A few years ago I lost most of my brassica's to root fly. I have used the collars every year since and touch wood have had no problems.

                And yes I would give them a quick feed of something as they should be starting to grow now.

                Colin
                Potty by name Potty by nature.

                By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.


                We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.

                Aesop 620BC-560BC

                sigpic

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                • #9
                  Thank you, I'll get hold of something to feed them with - I can see they're putting on some growth now.

                  Enviromesh ... I can see the sense in that but I've never actually had any. I hate the thought of the cabbages being shrouded, but I can see how it would help
                  Diagonally parked in a parallel universe!
                  www.croila.net - "Human beans"

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                  • #10
                    Another way is to wrap the bottom of the stem (the area they attack) with silver paper!

                    Sometimes the collars can get blown away or if not they can be a shelter for other nasties like slugs and snails!
                    Last edited by Snadger; 15-03-2011, 07:01 AM.
                    My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
                    to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

                    Diversify & prosper


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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Snadger View Post
                      Another way is to wrap the bottom of the stem (the area they attack) with silver paper!

                      Sometimes the collars can get blown away or if not they can be a shelter for other nasties like slugs and snails!
                      That's a brilliant tip Snadge, I'll use that thanks
                      Granny on the Game in Sheffield

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                      • #12
                        Oh yes, that IS a great idea! Surely if one uses both, silver paper AND a mat, it maximises defences ... I know enviromesh seems to be what a lot of people swear by, but anchoring the stuff down surely is a bit of a pain, and then you have to get under it regularly to check the things are not needing watered ..?
                        Diagonally parked in a parallel universe!
                        www.croila.net - "Human beans"

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Croila View Post
                          Oh yes, that IS a great idea! Surely if one uses both, silver paper AND a mat, it maximises defences ... I know enviromesh seems to be what a lot of people swear by, but anchoring the stuff down surely is a bit of a pain, and then you have to get under it regularly to check the things are not needing watered ..?
                          I just weight it down with filled plastic bottles and pegs, it's a doddle where I have mine as I have edged beds with grassy paths between them where it is easy to fix it, am guessing it'd be a lot harder if, for example, you grow in pots on a patio. It's not particularly attractive but I don't mind it, it's on my lottie and anyway, I'm quite sad in that I get excited when I put the cages up as it means the season is probably under way and I can imagine eating lovely greens in the winter

                          Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

                          Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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                          • #14
                            If I had an allotment with a decent amount of brassicas growing in beds, I'm sure I'd use it as well. But, for a handful of cabbages in pots in a back garden where space is at a premium, I'd rather not have to use enviromesh if I can help it. But I can see why you do, to be sure
                            Diagonally parked in a parallel universe!
                            www.croila.net - "Human beans"

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