Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi,

I noticed some tiny flies on my veg patch and in the soil in my greenhouse. They are noticable mainly when you move the soil they fly up and get moving. I have had onions and garlic in my greenhouse this winter, and when some of them started dying off, I looked closer and I have tiny white maggot things munching into my garlic and onions, also some of my pea and bean (Must admit I had used some of this soil and sat them on the soil).
I had thought that they were onion maggots, but reading up on them there are many similarities - 'Adults look like small houseflies and in late spring they lay their eggs- the maggots then eat the roots and then burrow into the bulb themselves' thanks to 'The New Kitchen Garden' ANNA PAVORD
but it says the worst time for this is early to mid summer!!! And that moing beds each year will sort the problem- but it is all over my veg patch.
I have started using new compost for new seeds.And these seem unaffected.

HELP What can I do?? I don't want to be unable to use my veg patch this year.

Hi Mucky Lizz,

According to my Kitchen Garden, Month by Month (Andi Clevely), the main problems with onions are onion fly and eelworms - in either case the recommended treatment is an insecticide which I assume you water the relevant bed with.

I'm sure someone with more knowledge will be along soon to give more help.

Terry

Just a thought, but possible they are either white fly, black fly or fruit flies. Dont really know, but I'd squirt them with something nasty if I were you - try dilute washing up liquid or a proprietary insect killer.

__________________
Regards, Jane
What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy? The creative adult is the child who has survived.
Ursula LeGuin
http://www.etribes.com/madderbat

If they're on or above compost they're probably scariad flies. The flies don't do any harm, but the grubs eat roots. Dry everything off a bit, and keep the compost cultivated. If desperate use insecticide.