Lost all my cauliflowers (all 4 :( )

MargeSimpson

I thought it was the high winds that had broken the stems from flipping the plants around, but now that I take a closer look, I'm inclined to think some little insect b*%^"$% ate the roots!!

what do you think?

michael brenock · Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 6:11 pm Post subject:

cabbage root fly definitely. Collars around the stems could have prevented this loss. The warm weather in march /April helped to cause this.
michael brenock Horticultural advisor (retired)

MargeSimpson · Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 6:18 pm Post subject:

oh! the disappointment! Sad

This was my first year trying cauliflower, so lesson learned.
I've made several mistakes this year, so I am noting everything with the intention of learning from them and not making the same mistakes next year.

Blowin · Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 7:42 am Post subject:

I, too, lost all my caulis and have just planted another lot in trays.

I've kept a load of clear plastic bottles of varying sizes up to 5-litre water containers. If I'd placed thin sticks or stiff wires in the soil alongside each seedling as I planted it out and then slid one of my plastic bottles over the top, would that have kept the fly out?

My reason for saving them has been to act as cloches, or mini greenhouses for individual plants but I was wondering if they could be used as above?

sirpsycho · Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 9:28 am Post subject:

http://www.allotment.org.uk/vegetable/brassicas/cabbage-root-fly.php

sharonl · Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 3:27 pm Post subject:

I had the same problem this year, lost most my cauliflower and broccoli. Managed to get plants to replace the broccoli but can't get cauliflowers and I think its too late to re-sow. made sure I used collars on the replacement plants and will be from now on. First time I've had a problem with cabbage root fly, lesson learned!