[Caddi fuller-teabags]

Last year I planted a multicolour mix of radishes and they were fine - I was overjoyed to see how quickly they grew.  I lost some to a wormy creature (some sort of tiny maggot?) but at least 3/4 were fine.

This year I had to buy a new packet of seeds and got a different variety and about 1 in ten (if that!) of the radishes have no maggots.  Some look lovely until you cut into them; others you can tell as you pull them that they are crawling.  UGH!  I grew rows in two different places, and one row seemed to have less maggot, but there wasn't much in it.

Is there
(a) some organic way of ensuring that I get a decent crop?
(b) a variety that is resistant?
(c) some non-organic way of ensuring that I get a decent crop?


Would I be better growing Mouli?  Or would I be better growing more spring onions instead?

[johnathome]

I'm no expert (first year)  but,

Quote from here
http://www.homesteadgarden.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-1747.html

Reining in radish maggots

Radish maggots are the pale larvae of a tiny fly that burrow through the flesh of radishes, leaving behind slimy brown tunnels as they feed. Wilting foliage is one easy-to-spot symptom.

Once radish maggots infest your crop, there’s nothing you can do except pull the radishes and send them away in the trash. Don’t add them to the compost pile because more maggots will hatch to ruin the next crop.

Although the news isn’t good once your radishes are infested, there are ways you can prevent them from showing up in the future. These little critters are most active during cool, wet weather. As soon as you sow radish seeds, tent the planting with a floating row cover. You should be able to find one at your garden center. Tenting keeps the adult flies from laying eggs on the leaves as the radishes sprout. This will eliminate the larvae that would have dropped to the ground, ready to begin feeding on the tender roots.

Just make sure to cover the row completely and seal the edges of the cover with soil or rocks. Keep the radishes covered during the entire growing season so no flies can get in.

Rotating crops also helps discourage this pest. Since radishes are in the mustard family along with cabbage, broccoli and turnips, rotate them with a different family of crops, such as peas, beans, tomatoes or even herbs.

Susie in MN

So netting would seem to solve it, but that all depends how big your plot is!

[Caddi fuller-teabags]

Thank you.

<sighs>

Guess what I did with all the radishes that were infested?  Oh yes, I put them in the compost.

Caddi

[gobs]

Netting won't solve it, depending, the fly is very little, you need fleece or rather fine mesh netting.

You really want to grow them as per DD, in compost in a cat litter tray by your back door under the fly net curtains.  

[Aidy]

Caddi, as a fellow site chappie thats just a stone throw from your plot the only way you will get radish of there is to grow either Mooli or icicle, both are long white radish and the fly tends not to go for them as they contain more mustad oil, its the only ones I have grown on their. The other way is to grow them on the window sill at home!

[Caddi fuller-teabags]

Thanks Aidy - I did wonder!

[Little Dibber]

I lifted a few this morning and saw a little black looking wriggly thing near a hole.

I cut through the hole in 1 other radish just now, a minute latter a little white maggot was trying to escape, how gross, any thoughts of extra protein immediately evaporated.

[johnathome]

I hope the Enviromesh i ordered hurrys up and comes!

[DD.]

Like the old joke says..

What's worse than biting into a radish and finding a worm?
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Biting into a radish and finding HALF a worm!