Broccoli wilting and falling over

12 years ago

I posted a similar message on the organic forum, but I was hoping some folks here might be able to help.

My broccoli looked fine until recently, and has started wilting and falling over. These pics are of different plants - the bottom one I pulled out and just has the "tap" root. I can't see any evidence of pests that had been munching the roots.

I started these from seed, outdoors, about a month or so ago. The ground isn't overly saturated, and if anything I have a hard time keeping it moist.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Featured Answer

robhan
Original Author

12 years ago

Thanks for the input. I dug around a plant and found a small white maggot on the root - looks like I have cabbage root maggot. Now the question becomes - is there any way to get rid of them and salvage my plants? Most of what I read is oriented more towards prevention, rather than control once they're found...

If my plants are goners, would replacing them with starts from the nursery make sense? Or would that be unwise, since the maggots are already there?

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Comments (8)

galinas
12 years ago
The damage looks like cabbage root maggots to me, but then you should see tiny white maggots in the soil near the roots and on the root itself. Also, they do not like the heat and more a problem on the north, then on the south.
digdirt2
12 years ago
Yeah did you dig around in the soil to see what was there? If you dig the plant up rather than pull it you can learn more.
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Charlie
12 years ago
Most likely it is the heat. Brocoli is a cool weather plant, often planted in the fall to be harvested in the late spring. I tried an experiment this year by planting my leaf brocoli under lights in January and transplating it into a raised bed in early April. So far, so goo, but I am not holding my breath as the weather gets warmer.
digdirt2
12 years ago
is there any way to get rid of them and salvage my plants?

Once planted there isn't much you can do to treat for CRM that I know of that wouldn't also kill the plants - before planting, yes - beneficial nematodes, soil sifting, soil solarization, pesticides mixed into the soil, heavy spring tilling, etc.

If you still have live plants leave them, mound up soil around the bases, and some will likely make it as more of the larvae pupate and hatch to leave.

Dave
adrock430
12 years ago
Lightly fertilizing, hilling soil around the plants up to the first healthy leaf, and watering well for a bit may help, they may perk up by growing new roots from the stem. Keep the plants healthy from the get go and hill them and you won't have a problem in the future.
Slimy_Okra
12 years ago
Root maggots are a major issue around here. I posted a thread a couple weeks ago about using row covers to stop the adult flies from laying eggs in the first place, if you want to do a search for it. There's also a thread on using tulle as a barrier against other small insects.

I finally decided to splurge on something called Proteknet Insect Netting which comes by the roll and is cheaper than tulle when purchased in bulk.
marcantonio
12 years ago
a little secret, at planting time ad some powered ginger in the planting hole and on the surface near and even on the plant. sprinkle some every week or two. till plants are larger.hope this helps. works for all in the cabbage family.