What is this little white bgu that eat my cauliflower

[David1949]

About three weeks i bought compost + soil + 6 cauliflower transplants out of Homebase filled a large green container and planted them out into the container. All went well till about a week ago when the cauliflower started to look like they were dying for lack of water. To -day i lifted one of the worst one,s out only to fine that there were loads of little white grubs around the roots . Then i checked all of them and found the rest to be the same. So what are they also how long do i leave the container empty before i put in my own cabbage transplants please .

[Two_Sheds]

The stem is well rotten, do you have any drainage holes in your container?


I'd say they're cabbage root fly larvae

[Bigmallly]

I'm not 100% David but they look like cabbage root fly.Usually protected by putting cardboard collars around the base of the plant.I'd wait for confirmation as I am only guessing.

Cabbage root fly - WikiGardener - The gardening site that anyone can edit

[David1949]

Yes i have drainage holes if it is cabbage root fly do i have to through out the compost are will they die of now the container is empty i have other cabbage transplants waiting to go in.

[Bigmallly]

I personally would dump the compost and start from scratch, get some cardboard and make some of these:

[David1949]

I have riddled the compost in the container and got no more bugs so i will now use this soil/ compost mix to fill my potato bags. So is this ok are do i have to leave the soil/ compost mix in the container dormant for 2 or 3 months.

[Bigmallly]

I'm afraid I don't know anything about pests but I would be concerned that more eggs may be in the soil.

[David1949]

I'm afraid I don't know anything about pests but I would be concerned that more eggs may be in the soil.

OK thank,s for your help Bigmallly and everyone else think i,ll take my chances and use the soil / compost mix on my potatoes and see whats happens.