Gardeners are urged to safeguard this cherished group of plants using a simple piece of cardboard, which will aid their growth this spring. Brassicas refer to a collection of closely related plant species encompassing cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and more.
Most Brassicas serve as a vital food source for various animals. Commonly viewed as pests by growers, species like pigeons, deer, and rabbits, along with many foliage-feeding invertebrates, can cause significant damage to these plants before harvest. Therefore, regular inspections of these plants will help reveal most pest infections or damage caused by leaf-eating pests, allowing for timely control measures to protect and salvage the crop before it’s too late. However, unfortunately, some pests reside in the soil, feeding on brassica roots and often going unnoticed until the plants show significant damage. The most prevalent of these are the larvae (maggots) of the cabbage root fly.
Cabbage root flies are drawn to the scent of brassicas and lay their eggs at the base of the plants, especially during winter when they are buried as pupae. The larvae hatch during the warmer months and burrow into the soil to feed on the roots, resulting in the plants wilting and dying. So, to prevent these flies from infesting your crops, create barriers around the stems of the brassica plants.
Use a cardboard disk called a cabbage collar or a layer of non-absorbent material. These physical barriers effectively prevent the flies from laying eggs in moist soil, leading to their desiccation and death.
To create the cardboard disk, start by cutting out circles or squares of cardboard that measure around 10-15 cm in diameter. Next, make a slit from the edge to the center, then cut a Y-shape to enable the collar to wrap around the plant stem. Finally, position the collar around the plant’s base, ensuring it rests evenly with the soil.
Cardboard covers provide an effective and budget-friendly solution for shielding cabbages from root flies this spring. The collar prevents larvae from accessing the roots. Furthermore, the cardboard collar assists in controlling weeds around the plants. It also helps maintain moisture in the soil surrounding the roots.
Brassica collars can also be used alongside netting, which protects brassicas from butterflies that lay eggs on the leaves, which can lead to caterpillar infestations and birds that eat the leaves. However, ensure that netting is kept taut and regularly checked and monitored for holes to avoid getting wildlife caught.
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