Question:
How do I get rid of the worms in my radishes? They’ve been a problem the last couple of years.Answer:
The Vegetable Root Maggot is the white worm that attacks radishes, turnips, carrots and onions in addition to cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts.- With the root crops, the maggots bore into and damage the edible part of the plant. With the above ground, crops, they tunnel into the below ground stems and larger roots severing the supply of water and nutrients to the plant(s). Yellow or wilted leaves are often a sign of the problem; however, by then it’s usually too late to save the plants.
- The maggots thrive in cool, moist weather so it’s a problem in the early spring as the rainy season concludes and again in the late fall. They can overwinter in the soil in the pupa stage. In the spring, the adults emerge and lay their eggs at the base of the host plant(s) and are very good at detecting newly planted areas. The adults are a dark ash, gray color about one-quarter of an inch long and looks like the common housefly, only smaller.
- They can be controlled in a number of ways without having to use any chemicals. Radishes are a short term crop, usually maturing in thirty days, so there is a simple solution. You avoid the problem by postponing the planting until mid-spring when the rainy season has concluded. Also, never plant when the yellow Mustard is blooming. This is when the adult fly is emerging from the ground.
- With other longer maturing crops, rotate the plantings to a different location each season and apply Beneficial Nematodes to the soil. The Nematodes will seek and destroy the soil pupa and or maggots. The plant debris should be removed and or roto-till under immediately after harvesting to destroy the overwintering site.
- Another option is to place Yellow Sticky Traps in the area. The traps will capture many of the adult flies before they can mate and lay eggs.
Question:
Three years ago, we planted several English Lavender plants. They are full and bushy but they get no water except when we periodically drag a hose to them. Right now, they get a lot of wear and tear from neglect. Should the flowers be trimmed off after blooming and when is the best time to shape these plants?Answer:
The old spent Lavender flowers should be removed along with the stems after blooming.- The plant then could be lightly trimmed with a pair of hedge shears but don’t prune them back to bare stems. In most gardens, Lavender plants have a short life span of no more than five years. In our clay soil, the primary problem is the companion plants mixed with the Lavenders. These plants require much more water and fertilizer while lavender plants thrive on neglect.
- So, I wouldn’t change a thing you are currently doing or suggest anything different.