[Sharonx]

Just been cutting up a white cabbage for tea and noticed a bright red worm type thing in the base of it. I poked it with my knife and it kind of swam into a crevice of the cabbage.
Now, when my husband was pulling the cabbages up last week I noticed quite a few of these (some bigger than others, todays culprit is about an inch long) under where the roots were. I thought they were earth worms but surely it must be something else because of the way it moves. & they don't live in cabbages either do they??

As much as I love my allotment I'm not too good with bugs & slugs, although getting better when I'm on the plot with the aid of gloves. Not impressed with findings in food though yuk!

Answers after dinner please!

[peapod]

I can only find a cutworm that sounds similiar to your visitor, as all other naughties are green from what I can see!

Is this it?

[Swing Swang]

All my wife could say was, 'at least it's not a frog' (her Room 101 nemesis).

[peapod]

Reading your post more...
Maybe it was a tiny centipede? Ive seen these at my plot too

[Aidy]

could be simple brandlings, I get them in mine, they get there when you chuck your muck on.

[Sharonx]

They aren't either of the pictures, they look like earth worms but certainly don't move like them!

What are bradlings? Do they eat veg?

I did manage to eat my cabbage tonight though & yummy it was too....least being that bright against the cabbage they are easily visable. Unlike some of those pesky caterpillas! :evil:

Thanks for your replies x

[Salmo]

How do these move that is different from earthworms? Would you say they sort of flick themselves back and forth rather than just squirming? If so they are probably brandlings. Brandlings live in all the best compost heaps and are an alternative to tiger worms in a wormery.

[peterjf]

the grub needs to be squashed , cut in 1/2 then jumped on, and finally hit it with a shovel , its a root eating bug then turns in a wonderful moth that eats all your greens

the worm is a friendly brandling worm , a gardeners friend , blooming good fishing bait too

[milkman]

agree with all the others - they are brandling worms which are good - relocate any you find to your compost heap, they will be equally happy in there!

[farmersue]

[the worm is a friendly brandling worm , a gardeners friend , blooming good fishing bait too]
You can say that again - every time my son (a very keen fisherman) visits me on my plot, he tries to steal my worms from the compost heap! Kids these days eh? No respect.......... :roll:

[vegmandan]

Agree totally.

Brandlings.They'll get anywhere where it's moist and will do no harm.

I've found 'em inside the leaves of cabbages and lettuce  often and they'll only eat the dead stuff anyway.

Dont Panic !!