Cabbage root fly maggots - do they come back?

[Croila]

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!

[chris]

Can you not put cardboard around the base to stop them?

[Two_Sheds]

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?

[Croila]

Hmmmm ... So, I guess I should just leave the existing collars on them, then, yes? (Thank you for your replies! )

[Two_Sheds]

Yes, leave the collars in place. Here's a bit more info: http://www.which.co.uk/documents/pdf...fly-151755.pdf

[Croila]

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.

[Alison]

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

[Potstubsdustbins]

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

[Croila]

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

[Snadger]

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!

[Florence Fennel]

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

[Croila]

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 ..?

[Alison]

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

[Croila]

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