[dbeech]

This year and last year we have had a particular proiblem with growing peas, sweetcorn and cucumber.
The seedlings come up fine at first, but then wither away to nothing. On inspection there are small maggots in the compost that were devouring the seedlings from the seed up!
Seeds are brand new and from reputable brands.
From some research last year it looked like it was some sort of frit-fly and that this was due to have under-rotted compost.
Last year we initially used Peat-Free Growbags from B&Q, but then tried them in expensive seedling compost, but still the same happened.
This year we used B&Q Standard Growbags and the same has happened again.

Anyone any ideas of a good growing media to use that will not encourage these pests?

[sunshineband]

Fruit fly larvae usually only eat decomposing matter ie over ripe fruit for example, so I guess these would not be the culprit 

What colour are the maggotty things? and how big?

[mumofstig]

without seeing the culprits? ?
Can I say though, that this happened to me when I sowed a batch of runner beans in compost that was too wet. The beans start rotting because they are too wet and then the 'maggots' seem to move in.

Since I've learned to keep the compost only slightly damp I've had no more problem

[compostqueen]

I think I have an infestation in my conservatory. Spotted the blighters last night. I'd sprayed the tops of the compost with some organic bug killer to try and rid the plants of aphids.  I spent hours last night removing all the plants and searching under the skirtings with a torch.  I think the spray must have sent them running for the hills. Found some in the kitchen too 

[Salmo]

Frit fly is unlikely as the eggs are layed on the leaves of grasses and cereals, which include sweetcorn, and the maggots kill the centre shoot.

A more likely culprit is bean seed fly. The flies lay their eggs on newly disturbed compost. The maggots usually feed on decaying organic matter but may attack seedlings, especially beans, peas and onions. With beans they burrow into the seed and eat the seed leaves.

I have not heard of them attacking cucumbers or sweetcorn but they mat do so?

[peterjf]

occasionally we get small yellow round eggs in our compost , we sift them out and squash them between  thunb and fore finger , great fun hearing them pop,

they could be anything , not sure , but better to be safe thern sorry

[mumofstig]

Those yellow round balls found in bought compost are often slow release fertilizer