french bean problems

[ginger24]

This is the first time I have tried to grow french beans and I have found tiny, creamy white maggot type things in and around the seeds and the roots . I just wondered if anyone could tell me what they were and how I could get rid of them?

[Flummery]

I grow them every year, ginger24 and I've never encountered this problem. Did you raise the seeds yourself? Are the plants showing signs of distress? The description shound a bit like vine weevil grubs. Maybe someone else has an idea? If it is, you might find the adults around - a small beetle type thing. You can buy stuff to control them from most garden sales outlets or organic things from online companies.

[ginger24]

Hi flummery, thanks for the reply. I am new to all this gardening business and internet forum stuff too!! My kids planted the seeds from a packet into those disc things that swell up when you add water. They then sat in a tray in the greenhouse on a shelf to themselves. Most of them started growing really well but now some of the plants have started to look a little shrivelled. I noticed the pests when we went to plant the beans out, the seeds (that hadn't grown) and the roots were crawling with the things.

[ginger24]

Hooray I think we have solved the problem! I took some of the maggot things to a couple of the local garden centres and they both came up with the same answer. They said they were carrot flies. This makes sense as I have a trough of carrots planted right next to the greenhouse (its only one of those small plastic covered ones that sit up against the wall). They said they must have laid in there as it was warmer than being out with the carrots. I was told to use Derris Dust on the soil, hopefully that will work. Thanks again Flummery.

[Flummery]

Not much help, was I? Fancy carrot flies attacking beans. There's more out there to be worried about than we ever knew!