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  • Cabbage root fly

    I've often wondered what these look like, and now I know.. . They've attacked some small cabbages that I moved out of the polytunnel a few weeks ago and planted in a raised bed outside. I only covered the bed quite recently, and failed to stitch up the big holes along the top of the debris netting. I'm not too worried about these cabbages because I didn't know if they'd come to anything or not anyway, but I'd like some advice on what to do now please?

    The adjacent raised bed is full of small brassicas - some cabbages, calabrese, sprouts - but has been covered since they were planted out with debris netting which HAS been stitched up. They also had bottle cloches on them until they outgrew them. I'm hoping these won't be at risk?

    I have another bed next to that one which isn't currently planted, but is waiting for further brassicas to go in - very tiny seedlings which don't seem to be growing in their pots so I was going to move them into the beds to see if they'd improve. It's not been covered - can I assume the grubs won't be affecting an empty bed? They're a bit too small to collar, but assume bottle cloches will work just as well until they get a bit bigger, especially if I make sure the debris netting is stitched this time...?

    Regarding the grubby bed, when is it safe to plant brassicas in there again (beyond the 3 year rotation)? Or do I have to avoid brassicas forever in that bed now??

    On a happier note, isn't the sunshine fab
    sigpicGardening in France rocks!

  • #2
    Kath it takes about 3 weeks for the grubs to pupate, pupa are brown about 1 cm long.

    About a week after this the pupa will turn into flys and the life cycle starts over.

    Colin
    Potty by name Potty by nature.

    By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.


    We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.

    Aesop 620BC-560BC

    sigpic

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    • #3
      Are you putting collars round the base of the plants Kathy? It does help a bit to stop them getting to the root.
      Granny on the Game in Sheffield

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      • #4
        Have you positively identified the grubs by lifting the affected plants?
        My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
        to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

        Diversify & prosper


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        • #5
          3 weeks? So in theory the soil should be clean again then? Not that I'll plant brassies there for a while..

          No collars FF - I was lazy with the cabbages, and I bottled and meshed the other stuff, so I thought I'd be safe. Next brassies a bit small to collar straight away...

          I have lifted the plants, stuffed the roots in a bucket of hot water, put them on the compost heap and poured boiling water over the soil! They didn't like it much . I'm planning on putting squashes or sweetcorn in there instead - I'm hoping they'll be safe enough?
          sigpicGardening in France rocks!

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          • #6
            Bras shouldn't be this much trouble should they Kathy? Better luck with the squash chuck.
            Granny on the Game in Sheffield

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            • #7
              Lol, thanks Florence
              sigpicGardening in France rocks!

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              • #8
                Collars are the solution virtually 100% effective.
                Just cut an old plastic compost bag into 8 inch squares.
                Make a cut from the edge to the middle.
                Fold in half and in half again. Then snip off the corner of the slit so when you open it up there is a small hole in the middle for the stem.
                Fit around the plant black side up when planted out.
                Weigh down with four small stones of so.
                You shouldn't have the problem ever again ....
                Jimmy
                Expect the worst in life and you will probably have under estimated!

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