Cabbage fly query

[Holly]

Hello all,
Does anyone know if inserting 40mm x 80mm plastic tubing around sprouts will deter cabbage fly, as an alternative to collars?

Thanks! Holly

[rustylady]

Possibly, but how the heck are you going to get them off? I think collars are better (you could make your own out of cardboard).

[Aberdeenplotter]

Hi Holly,

one of the guys who has a plot on our site - he is 82 years old - swears by it. His theory is that the cabbage root fly reverses up to the stem of the plant and when he feels the stem against its rump, it then lays its eggs on the soil against the foot of the stem. The eggs then hatch and the larvae immediately start burrowing into the stem causing the plant to wither and eventually die. With the plastic tubes in place, when the fly reverses up against them, they think it is the stem and duly lay their eggs. Off course when the eggs hatch, they can't burrow into the plastic and they wither and die instead of the brassicas. I've never tried it myself. I prefer to use a 4" square of carpet underlay with a slit cut into the middle from one edge. Then slipped around the stem of the plant. The fly then lays its eggs on the underlay but being exposed to the weather they dry up and so no damage done. That does work.

[Snadger]

Wrapping silver paper around the stem bases is also an option I've seen used.............

I have plastic pipes around some of mine to keep the flying rats off. Greenery still gets attacked but they usually cant reach the growing point!

[Holly]

Great! Thanks guys
Holly

[Florence Fennel]

I use collars too and I was going to make my own until I was treated to some bought ones for my birthday. You can get some that are slug repellent.