Radish Maggot - the slugs are innocent!

[Two_Sheds]

I had always assumed it was slugs eating my radishes ... today I peered a little closer, and it is in fact a little white maggot eating them. Damage seems to be worse in those radishes tucked down in the soil ~ the radishes that are poking out of the soil are largely unaffected.

These are the larvae of a tiny fly that burrows into the radish, leaving slimy brown tunnels as they feed. http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/vegprob...t_maggots3.jpg

Once radish maggots infest your crop, there’s nothing you can do except pull the radishes. Careful if you put on the compost because the maggots will hatch to ruin the next crop (I am putting my infected radishes into salty water to kill the maggots before composting)

Prevention: The fly is most active during cool, wet weather (just like we've had this spring). When you sow radish seeds, cover with a floating fleece or net curtain, to keep the adult flies from laying eggs on the leaves.
Rotating crops also helps discourage this pest (maggots may be hibernating in the soil where you last grew radishes).

[shirlthegirl43]

Thanks for that advice Two_Sheds. I am about to have another go at growing radish now that I have a dedicated salad bed. I had no luck with them last year - they just didn't swell - so do you have any other tips for radish success please?

[Two_Sheds]

I have no problem growing radish: I just forget to harvest them before they bolt! You need to grow them fast ~ they really appreciate watering. They also need to be damp to avoid flea beetle, but then you get the maggot. Not as easy a crop as people think.

[shirlthegirl43]

Cheers, having to keep the salad bed well damp as I Nemaslugged it last week - will sow some radish this afternoon and see how I get on.

[Nicos]

Thanks for that..never knew they existed!

[Two_Sheds]

Darn it!
My radishes are full of maggot holes again

I give up with spring sowings. I am going to stick to October sowings from now on.

[Two_Sheds]

Cabbage root fly ( Delia brassicae ) is by far the most serious pest of Radish. Crops can be affected by the larvae of the cabbage root fly from early May until well into the autumn.
There are several generations each year and there is often an overlap in the generations which results in most sowings from May to autumn being affected.


but if it is cabbage root fly ... how come it never, never affects my brassicas? I don't use collars, so maybe the radish is acting as a sacrificial crop.

[zazen999]

Cabbage root fly ( Delia brassicae ) is by far the most serious pest of Radish. Crops can be affected by the larvae of the cabbage root fly from early May until well into the autumn.
There are several generations each year and there is often an overlap in the generations which results in most sowings from May to autumn being affected.


but if it is cabbage root fly ... how come it never, never affects my brassicas? I don't use collars, so maybe the radish is acting as a sacrificial crop.

That sounds a good way to use radish seeds up - can't stand the things.