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Honesdale, Pennsylvania

Its almost go time. I am always wondering if any products that you may put in your growing hole to combat the corn seed maggots are doing some damage to the beneficial microbes. I know over the years some of the stuff I have for control is pretty nasty. Do you ring your protection around the root ball or do you need a direct hit when you plant your babies.

4/26/2022 12:18:56 PM

Springfield, VT

The simple answer is heat the soil and the maggots mature and leave. I'm running the heating cable for 24hr straight before planting. The other things are larger plants and merit (low dose) to the seedlings. Also keep the dirt away from the stem so they only get some of the roots and not get in the stem.

4/26/2022 4:57:08 PM

Bethlehem CT

Great advice Wilbur!

4/27/2022 7:00:31 AM

Dillsburg, PA

I get them too. Even with heated soil and the recommendations from Wilbur they still sometimes get me.

4/27/2022 7:11:06 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Wasn't there a preventive measure involving placing an elevated ring around the stem of the plants to prevent the maggots from getting to the stem? Would diatomaceous earth not be another preventive?

4/27/2022 9:47:26 AM

Columbia, Kentucky

Here is a link to a video I made about my prevention.
https://youtu.be/OHhoO2SSwYs

4/27/2022 11:07:36 AM

Massillon, Ohio

Great video Scott! 3 different years I lost seedlings to those rotten little maggots!! It was usually the 3rd or 4th day after transplanting. Its a sick feeling when you see a previously beautiful seedling lying collapsed on the ground. Then you see those maggots!

Ned, as Scott says in his video, the maggots are close to the surface. Other than the methods and products Scott mentions, I have also drenched Garlic Barrier on the surface around the seedling.
It is a repellent.

I also use the ring that TruckTech mentioned. I cut the top 2-1/2" from a large sized Solo cup. I put these rings in the starting pots when I plant the sprouted seeds - down about 2" leaving 1/2" sticking up. The roots will grow down thru them. I used to put them on when planting the seedlings outside and could sometimes hear the edges cut thru roots. I take them off after danger of the maggots has passed, by carefully cutting them in half, then pulling them out. When you transplant outside don't let garden soil inside the rings. You've probably already have the seeds started, so you could put the rings on at transplant, but then the ring should be the same circumference as your starting pot.

4/27/2022 2:03:51 PM

Jericho Vermont

I do everything that Wilbur says except I add Triazicide at 50% strength for veggies to water the plants in once they are transplanted.

4/28/2022 5:28:54 PM

Central Illinois

I use imidacloprid and if I see a fly in the hut I spray the plastic with a Bifen insecticide

4/29/2022 7:22:09 AM