| My turnips were all wormy below the soil surface. What can I do to prevent this next year? |
| Turnips are often attacked by wireworms, which are slender orange worms, and by cabbage root maggots. Wireworms are more common in new gardens, since adult beetles lay eggs in sod. They're more active in cool soils in spring and fall. Maggots start munching roots early in the season, and there are usually a few generations per year. You can deter the adult moths by using row covers supported by wire hoops. Both are also prey of beneficial nematodes. Nematodes and row covers are sold by Gardener'sSupply Co. (www.gardeners.com; ph# 800/863-1700). Hope this helps! |
