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Turnip Root Worm

Suzanne MckaySuzanne Mckay Posts: 3
in Problem solving

Hi,

New to this forum and looking for a bit of advice.

I am new to growing here in Scotland . 

I have just pulled out some of my turnips and discovered i have root worm. (now pulled them all out). I discovered (after trawling the net) i have planted a bit too early - also the fact i never covered the seedlings early doors hasnt helped.

I am wondering-- is it ok to put brassicas in the 'infected' soil?. (i have cabbage and  broccoli  grown and now ready to be planted out).

Or will the root worm still be in the soil and attack these new plants?

Any help or advice would be most gratefully received..

Thank you in advance

Suzanne

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,262

    Can you describe the "worm"?  it could be wireworm or it could be larvae of the cabbage root fly, which will attack turnips along with all other brassicas.

  • Suzanne MckaySuzanne Mckay Posts: 3

    Hi,

    Thank you very much for your kind reply. White coloured worms, looked a bit like small maggots. Mostly in at the root area of the turnip. I was able to cut out the bad bits and still use the turnip .. (purple top globe ) Every plant was affected  (one row of approx 5 meteres across). The leaf of the plants looked really healthy - to be honest i was a bit shocked when i pulled them and seen the worms. The problem was not visable from above ground. Hope this information helps.

    Sorry to sound a newbie to veg growing ..

    I had a smallholding in France where the only problem i had with my veg was cabbage moth laying eggs!.. Uk growing feels like a whole new world at the moment!

    Thank you again for you help..

    Best regards

    Suzanne

     

     

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,262

    It sounds like cabbage root fly larvae.  You can protect turnips from this by covering with fleece or enviromesh. The fly lays its eggs on the soil and they then burrow into the roots. With cabbages you could use collars but with turnips you can't.

     For your cabbages you can make little collars out of cardboard The fly lays its eggs on that and it dries out and dies.

  • Suzanne MckaySuzanne Mckay Posts: 3

    Thank you so much for your help and good advice.. Really much appreciated.

    I make up some collars for my cabbages.

    Thank you again.

    Best regards

    Suzanne

     

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