Celariac Wilt

[Samphire]

Hi, could anyone help me identify what is killing my celariac seedlings ? They wilt and when dug up small grubs were found in the stem just below ground level. What is laying them and how can I stop it happening in future ?

[Beryl]

I have never had any trouble with celeriac but it sounds like the cabbage root fly, in which case collars round new plants might protect them. I do dust mine with Deris when I first plant if you can still get hold of this.

Beryl.

[Samphire]

No this is the first time I've ever had any problems too. I've looked at images of the maggots and they do look similar so maybe that was what it was/is. Thanks for the tip.

[FelixLeiter]

Cabbage root fly only affects members of the cabbage family, of which celeriac is not a member, so it cannot be that. You mentioned that you saw some grubs, Samphire. Are they C-shaped, with brown heads? It's most likely to be vine weevil.

[alan refail]

Another (and I suspect more likely) possibilty is carrot fly, which despite its name attacks related umbellifers such as parsley, parsnips, celery and celeriac.

[Samphire]

I didn't notice black heads. They were quite small 3-4mm, I think they may be carrot fly larvea as suggested. Is it unusual for them to attack strong celariac seedlings ? As I said I've never known it before.

[FelixLeiter]

I didn't notice black heads. They were quite small 3-4mm, I think they may be carrot fly larvea as suggested. Is it unusual for them to attack strong celariac seedlings ? As I said I've never known it before.

Unusual, but not unknown. Oh dear. Are the seedlings very tiny? Celeriac needs a long growing season and should ideally be raised under glass in late winter / early spring, certainly no later than the end of March for it to yield a useful crop. I'm not hopeful that another sowing this late will prevail. But you could transplant the survivors so that they are free of the fly, and destroy the rest.

[Samphire]

I guess I'll just leave them and see what happens. They seem to have stopped wilting for the moment, so perhaps not all were affected. They were really strong and healthy when they went out. No matter, I'll be more careful next year and cover them.

[Beryl]

Sorry Samphire, my mistake. I'm sure the others are right and it is the carrot root fly. Hope I didn't mis-lead you.

Beryl.

[FelixLeiter]

I guess I'll just leave them and see what happens. They seem to have stopped wilting for the moment, so perhaps not all were affected. They were really strong and healthy when they went out. No matter, I'll be more careful next year and cover them.

I see now. So they're quite a bit further on than the seedling stage. I mis-understood. Be careful that the carrot fly are still not there and creating mischief. Plants that get their roots clobbered by pests or some other beastliness can often appear quite perky while the weather's overcast or it has been raining, but will wilt in full sun. The carrot fly maggots could remain hidden and get a lot worse if they remain untreated.