[Yana]

I'm sorry in that I haven't explained this very well, but it is hard to describe the brown marking inside the turnip.
I pulled some Purple Top Milan today as they were golf ball size or a little bit bigger, looking forward to having them tonight. Trimming the bottom end off (where the roots are) was no problem, but when I came to trimming off the leaves and top of the turnip, there were brown markings inside. Some of the turnips were not so badly affected as others. I couldn't trim them off as they went all the way longitudinally down from the leaf end through the turnip itself.
What are they and how can I avoid this happening again?
Thanks  :blink:

[BabbyAnn]

Cabbage root fly larvae I'm afraid - so annoying when the swede are tunnelled too    To avoid in future, you'll need to sow/plant them under fine netting to keep the flies out.  Cabbages and other leafy veg, you would put a collar round to stop the pesky flies from laying eggs near the roots.

[Yana]

Thanks BabbyAnn.
I did have them covered with debris netting as I had kale growing alongside so the pesky blighters have obviously got through that.
Are they less active as the season goes on? I was thinking I could wait a bit before resowing.

[mumofstig]

I wonder if I can afford to cover the whole allotment under an enviromesh cage? - obviously not 

It feels like I need it sometimes when everything attacks at once 

[Beetroot queen]

I wonder if I can afford to cover the whole allotment under an enviromesh cage? - obviously not 

It feels like I need it sometimes when everything attacks at once 

Wouldnt that be a bonus. Maybe an enviromesh bubble like the eden project.

[Yana]

I wonder if I can afford to cover the whole allotment under an enviromesh cage? - obviously not 

It feels like I need it sometimes when everything attacks at once 

From the outside the turnips looked perfect and I was so chuffed as I have never had much luck growing them before. It was only when I cut into the tops I could see the damage. What with that and the ants and blackfly infestation maybe last years slugs and snails weren't so bad.