Root worm

I’ve come to the realization that I have root worm in my cauliflower and broccoli plants! I’ve been treating with Diatomaceous earth. The plants are in milk crates. Do I need to dump the dirt, remove the landscapers fabric, scrub then reline and refill with new soil? The plants started out looking so good but now, not so much.

Michele Gerdes
Rhinelander, Wisconsin

Many times you can get rid of root worm by using beneficial nematodes available through such places as Gardens Alive!. You just mix the powder with water and soak in the soil around your plants. The nematodes only attack harmful worms, not earthworms. And they are not harmful to you, either. Other than that, starting over as you suggested may be the only cure. I’d either sterilize the soil you fill your crates with by baking it in the oven at 250° F for 20 minutes or use commercial potting soil so you don’t start out with the same problem. If you used garden soil, I’d advise using beneficial nematodes in your garden or where you access your soil for your containers to avoid future problems. The nematodes multiply and stay around as long as there is “prey.” — Jackie

Using a bread bucket

After the article about bread buckets, I purchased one. All went well until the part about leaving the dough in the bucket to rise. Most recipes I’m familiar with say to lightly grease the dough and bowl it will rise in. Is this step necessary, I took my dough out of the bucket , placed it in a greased bowl, lightly greasing the top of the dough,and proceeded as usual. Will it be ok to skip this step? I was too chicken to try it minus the light greasing.

Margaret Jensen
Branchville, South Carolina

Sure you can skip letting the dough rise in the bucket and use a bowl. I’ve never been lucky enough to own a bread bucket, myself. Lucky you! — Jackie

3 COMMENTS

  1. I have and use a bread bucket. I let the bread rise in it, I just spray the dough lightly with cooking oil (which I keep in a spray bottle). I cover the bucket with plastic wrap, also lightly greased, or foil or whatever I have, then cover the top with a clean dish towel. It works just fine and means I only have one piece of equipment to clean. JudyS

  2. Jackie, I wrote the article on using a bread bucket. I don’t grease the bucket, it rises just fine in the bucket without that step. I use my hand or a “scraper” to get the last bit of dough out of the bucket if any should happen to stick. Mostly it doesn’t though.

  3. Generally root worms or maggots can be prevented by having a flyproof row cover over the plants so hat the cabbage flies can’t lay there eggs. Since they have your solutions are the only help for this year. Next year I would start with fresh soil and put row cover on hoops (wire,pvc, or EMT). I try and clean up crop residue and rotate crops so the flies from last years worms don’t emerge under the rowcover.
    Howard

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