Big problems a lot of disappointment

[Karpman]

Hi guys sorry my second post is about problems. Two weeks ago me and the kids had great fun clearing a raised bed of herbs for some veg.

Two weeks on the peas are coming through radishes doing great until a couple of days ago, everything started wilting peas especially and only about a inch high, I dig a pea up to find the base covered in tiny white maggots more digging reveals more peas crawling.

Found a couple on radishes too gutted. Gutted to the core. A couple of questions.

1, is there anything I can grow in pots or on the same bed.

2, will it affect the whole garden.

3 can I plant plants in the raised bed to give the garden some shine.

4, will it affect my beans in next door bed.

Many thanks it advance

Karpman

[WendyC]

Did you take a photos of the offending beasties? Difficult to know what to suggest without having an idea what's attacked your vegetables.

[Karpman]

Will try and get some pics shortly. There a small white maggot, living just under the soil there's about ten to twenty per pea. Will do my best to get some pics up.

Karpman

[Karpman]

[WendyC]

Yuck! No wonder you were disappointed. Can't help you identify them I'm afraid but I'm sure someone will be along soon. Just a thought what was in the bed before you cleared it?

[Karpman]

It was a very large herb patch. Take it most garden nasties are not dangerous to people. My kids love the garden.

Karpman

[Jardiniere]

my thought too was that there was something in the soil of the bed before you cleared it. Check your other beds. Hope someone comes along to identify your beasties.

[vikkib]

Any chance it's cabbage root fly larvae?

RHS page mentions them going for radishes?

Cabbage root fly / Royal Horticultural Society

If they look like the culprits the same page mentions a nematode that might help:

Fingers crossed

[Karpman]

Don't seem to be having problems else were no wilting flowers etc.

Cabbage root fly is what I came up with after a google and apparently they like peas too. Anyone used nemasys grow your own?

What a conundrum

[Pumpkin Becki]

I wonder if it could be pea moth...have a quick read here, the timing is certainly right - end of May, beginning of June

Pea moth

[WendyC]

Hadn't thought of cabbage root fly as always associated it with cabbages. Suggestion is to grow under fleece or environmesh to avoid the attack.

[Karpman]

Not pea moth there defiantly not caterpillars. There a maggot and best thing I can liken them too is the cabbage ones.

Information seems sparse, only thing I seem to be able to find out is they attack brassica but there munching pea seeds and starting on the radish. Seems there is no way of dealing with these little nasties.

Any suggestions on what I could grow would be greatly appreciated and maybe could I plant more adult plants and will they attack bedding plants.

Karpman

[WendyC]

You could sow your peas undercover and then plant out. They might be better able to withstand attack if bigger. You could try planting through cardboard, a bit like the cabbage collar idea.

[Karpman]

Wiped the plot clean this morning not a sole left in there. Gonna get rid of the soil up a friends farm tonight and refil with compost. Nematodes are on the way and peas and beans set in friends greenhouse. Will try and salvage something this year.

I'm hoping with my efforts and using larger plants we may be able to get some crop.

Many thanks

Karpman

[Thelma Sanders]

Could it be Pea and bean weevil? - the larvae feed on the roots