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Pests
Cabbage Root Maggot on Broccoli
Commonly affects: Brassica oleracea var. italica (Broccoli)
The plant wilts and yellows for no obvious above-ground reason, and when pulled, roots show tunnelling damage and small white maggots.
Potential Causes
- 1Cabbage root fly larvae tunnelling into roots and the stem base
- 2Adult flies laying eggs at the base of plants in spring
- 3Cool, moist soil favouring larval survival
Solution Steps
- 1Use collars around the base of transplants to block egg-laying at the stem
- 2Cover young plants with floating row covers from transplanting
- 3Rotate brassicas to reduce localised pest buildup
- 4Remove and destroy severely affected plants along with root maggots in the soil
Prevention Tip
Physical collars around the stem base at transplanting are a simple, effective barrier against root maggot egg-laying.
