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St. George, Utah

Oh, this is SO terrible! I was getting curious as to why my seeds hadn't sprouted in 2 weeks so I started snooping around in the dirt and I found that I have maggots in my seedlings! I have three strong sprouts. But the rest aren't even out of the ground yet. What should I do!?

4/19/2004 8:27:23 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Yikes...use sterile soil...keep the road kill out!

4/19/2004 9:24:59 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Did you think to take them out? That'd be my first course of action...

4/19/2004 9:27:14 PM

St. George, Utah

It's the weirdest thing, there aren't any dead things in my yard. I have no idea where they came from. Yeah I took some out. So I should remove all of my dirt then? That seems a little extreme. I can't really move all of the dirt anyways because, there's plants and stuff already in there, ya know?

4/19/2004 10:08:13 PM

St. George, Utah

HEY! I looked around at some different pictures and info and I think these 'maggots' are actually 'Vine Borers'! How do I get rid of these?

4/19/2004 10:21:03 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

They are not vine borers. Most likely the are nematodes(roundworms) not the good kind. or they areSeed Maggots that flourish in cold damp soil.
http://www.apollos.net/arena/artemis/bugs/root_maggots.html

Check the above link out to see if this is what you are seeing. If so Diazinon is your friend. Steve will chime in and give you a few recommendations too. I would suggest planting indoors in Pots with sterile soilless mix. Then moving the plant out side 10 days later. In the mean time treat the patch area where the seedlings are to go. Shannon

4/19/2004 11:13:31 PM

Yeah...plant inside in warm dirt with no bugs, then transplant outside. Pumpkins like warm dirt to germinate in...I don't know know much about Utah climate, but I doubt it's very favorable for pumpkins this time of year.

4/19/2004 11:21:28 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

These are outside? Kinda early yet huh? Get some heat on that soil and like Shannon said, something in the ground to kill them without nuking your plant.
Whaddya got plants down in the Utah soil in mid-April for?

4/20/2004 6:48:07 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Post some photos here or grab a sample & get to the local cooperative extension office. Blue pages in the phone book or call information. It's taxpayer financed so you'll not be billed.

Read some of the very good diaries on this website. Good complete ones are from "docgipe", "Don Quiote" (sp?), etc.
Most of us start inside. Direct start requires perfect drainage & warm soils. It sounds like you have neither. But the diaries can guide you well.

4/20/2004 8:39:10 AM

St. George, Utah

Ok, well they look like vine borers and root maggots mixed together. They could be either. They look very similar. Ok, I'll plant some inside and see how things go from there. Well they all are germinating, it's just not that quickly. I found a hotpad in my house last night so I'll use that to make the soil warmer. It's pretty warm here actually. 70's to 80's. I'm gonna go to the Nursery today and get some rotenone or something. Thanks for all the help

4/20/2004 1:30:54 PM

Utah

St. George is in the south-western corner of the state. It has weather more like Las Vegas or Phoenix than Salt Lake City.

4/20/2004 2:34:55 PM

St. George, Utah

Yeah, it is pretty warm here. Dry too, but I water pretty regularly. So any other tips?

4/20/2004 5:43:13 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

They are not vine borers.

4/20/2004 6:31:28 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Shannon's right, they're not vine borers

4/20/2004 7:38:57 PM

Tipp City, Ohio

Maybe they are corn root worms?

4/20/2004 8:46:02 PM

St. George, Utah

Ok ok, they're not vine borers. Well I am starting another batch of seeds indoors. THEN transplanting them. You gotta remember that all of this stuff I am learning is brand new to me. This is the first time in my life I have ever grown anything.

4/20/2004 9:12:27 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

corn seed maggots would be correct!

4/21/2004 8:16:29 AM

St. George, Utah

I don't know is this will help but they are about this long: ... or a little shorter

4/21/2004 5:29:08 PM

Tipp City, Ohio

The larvae of the Corn Root Worm (aka...Striped Cucumber beetle) supposivley only feeds on corn roots. The OSU AG Center used an 11 acre test plot. It was in an older corn field. One aspect was using Admire to Study rates of application for the Cuke beetles. They were supprised to find that they had better germination rates in this particular test plot compared to the others in the same field. Initial analysis was believed to be prevention of the corn root worms from feasting. Although, they are not known to eat pumpkin roots.

4/21/2004 9:24:49 PM

St. George, Utah

Wow, good research. :)

4/21/2004 10:04:47 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

http://www.agriculture.com/default.sph/AgNews.class?FNC=goDetail__ANewsindex_html___51545___1

4/21/2004 11:11:13 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

Two different animals here--- the seed corn maggot (delia platura) is a fly while the corn root maggot(drabrotica virgifera) is a beetle --

4/22/2004 8:29:11 AM

Western Pa.

Kenward,
I agree with Shannon up above that they may be seed maggots.
A few years ago, I found that tiny white wire-like worms had been eating all my howden seeds as they were germinating. Instead of grasping at straws, take a sample into your local Ag Co-op and get them properly "diagnosed".

4/22/2004 9:07:36 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Regardless. The solution is the same. Bring the pest to a competent entomologist for accurate ID. Treat the soil &/or the seed with Imidacloprid (see Gaucho link). Restart seed indoors in sterile mix. Replant in the repaired soil. Problem solved.

4/22/2004 9:25:32 AM

St. George, Utah

Hey! I got a picture of the grubs! http://gazler.com/users/kenner/pict0072.jpg

4/24/2004 4:28:29 PM