[LottieSue]

Quick question - is it still worth putting collars round my newly planted second batch of calabrese and mini caulis? A couple of my sprout plants did wilt mysteriously in the spring (though no sign of maggots at the time).
This was in spite of using collars - though in the dry spring, it was difficult to get the cardboard I use to stay flat!

Thanks

Sue

[Aidy]

For me this has been the worst year (most of our site will say the same). There is normaly two hatches in the year, collars again haven't worked for us so I have tried a couple of experiments, the first being to lay some fine gravel (road chipping material) around the base of the plants upto about an inch in depth, the other was to carefully lay some lime around the base. Both so far have worked.

[LottieSue]

Thanks Aidy

I think I'll try some extra lime instead of collars - might help with the clubroot as well (though I do add some to the holes when I plant).

I find collars extremely fiddly to put on. Cardboard not being very flexible - I'm always worried I'm going to decapitate the plant while I'm trying to fit them round the stem! 

[Yorkie]

I've never heard of lime being effective against root fly - it's relevant to club foot though.  If true, you learn something every day.