This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: Brussels Sprouts and "Maggots"

These "maggots" sound like Cabbage Root Fly larvae.
The female lays eggs at the junction of the soil and the stem of young
Brassicas. They aren't fussy about which type.
Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Swede can all be
affected.
Larger plants can tolerate some infestation but seedlings and small
transplants are very vulnerable to attack.

Using Diazinon will help, but it is not nice stuff to use and I wouldn't
fancy eating anything exposed to it. Not knowingly anyway.
There are other soil insecticides but another way, does not require use of
any chemicals, is a physical barrier.

Take pieces of old rubber or felt carpet underlay or roofing felt, even
cardboard will do, and cut them into  approx. 10 to 15cm squares. Cut a
slit from one edge to the centre of each square. When you plant out your
brassicas slide a square around the stem of each using the slit. 
When the fly comes to lay her eggs, as she will, the eggs are exposed to
the air rather than the moist soil and  will dry out before hatching.

This *does* work. I use it. I lose very few plants to root fly.
If you want 100% success you will have to use chemicals and use a lot of
them.
If you are prepared to accept a few, maybe no, loses then try the barrier
method.

Regards
Stephen

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Stephen Griffiths
Barfield Allotment Association
Whetstone, London. England.
stephen.griffiths@dial.pipex.com.
 http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/close/xpz05/
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index