Maggots killed my courgettes! Any advice on what to do next? [Video Included]

[Abraham_veg]

Hello,

First time growing veg and first time posting, hoping I can get some advice.

Manchester UK - I started off some courgettes from seed. After two months I noticed that the ones I had transplanted into my raised bed were doing worse than the ones I had left over in their tiny seedling pots.

This morning they looked completely dead and I thought that the aphid/fly like creatures on the leaves were the cause, until I noticed the bottom of the stems were completely rotten. Inspecting them closer I found these little worms burrowing into all of the stems (And even some on a few radish seedlings)

Any advice on how to tackle these?
Is it possible to do organically?

Please see video below.

[SarrissUK]

Oh dear, never had that myself, but I'd probably sprinkle the area with diatomaceous earth. Anything maggotty dies from that.

[Scarlet]

Yep! I've had a huge problem with these maggots this year. Fungus gnats lay their eggs and then they hatch and eat the roots of young plants.

Take them out of the soil. Wash the roots thoroughly and replant in new compost.

Also lots of time to start courgettes again.

Stick fly tape around and only water from the bottom. Put grit on the top of your pots to stop them laying...

[Abraham_veg]

Take them out of the soil. Wash the roots thoroughly and replant in new compost.


Stick fly tape around and only water from the bottom. Put grit on the top of your pots to stop them laying...

Thank you very much for your response Scarlet, i've ordered some fly tape and hope it works. The plants looked a bit dead so I ended up chucking them, but when I transplant the remaining few across i will water them less.

Oh dear, never had that myself, but I'd probably sprinkle the area with diatomaceous earth. Anything maggotty dies from that.

Thank you also Sarriss, Just ordered some of that earth so will give it a go, fingers crossed it solves the problem!