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Main pests and diseases of cauliflowers
Cauliflowers. Pests and diseases
It is important to consider the rotations of cauliflowers with other crops to prevent infection caused by previous crops. In this case it is important not to plant cauliflower in areas where other Cruciferae (= brassicaceae) had previously been planted.
Among the cruciferous plants we have the following vegetables: cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, Calabria, rutabagas, radishes, kohlrabi, turnips, broccoli, Chinese komatsuna or pak choi.
It is convenient to plant cauliflowers after solanaceous crops or tuberous roots, such as celery, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, sweet potatoes, parsnips, potatoes, etc.
Combining cauliflowers with other herbs such as sage and rosemary, can prevent infection.
Main cauliflower pests
The main pests that affect them are:
Cabbage butterfly sipping on a cruciferous flower (Pieris brassicae) Cabbage maggot (Chortophilla brassicae) It is a type of fly much like the common fly whose larvae feed on roots. This causes rotting of the plant or weaken it.
- The main treatment is to provide cauliflowers with a more friendly environment by means of associating this plant with the tomato crop. It may also be effective to remove the ground for the larvae to be exposed so that they can be eaten by birds.
- To avoid infection it is necessary to disinfect the soils or using soils where no cruciferous plants have previously been planted. Sometimes the extent of the disease requires the elimination of the entire crop. Another approach is to protect the base of the plant with a system that prevents the larvae enter the soil. Chemical treatment offers no effective solution.
- Cabbage white butterfly (Pieris brassicae) The larvae of this moth eat the leaves. In addition to the chemical treatment with chemicals such as Permethrin, you can use other greener means such as spraying with soapy water or water from the decoction of tansy. To avoid infection it is necessary to disinfect the soils or using soils where no cruciferous plants have previously been planted.
- Cabbage moth (Mamestra brassicae) It is a type of moth whose larvae feed on the inflorescence.
Main cauliflower diseases
The main diseases affecting cauliflowers are:
- Downey mildew (Peronospora parasitica f.sp. brassicae) It is a disease caused by fungi during the wetter times that make the leaves turn yellow. Although it can be treated with a specific product, it is better to choose plantlets that are free of disease
- Botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) It is also known as “gray mold”. It occurs when there is too much moisture in the environment, causing the plant to rot. Dark or gray spots appear on the plant in the form of mold. It produces blackening of the inflorescence.
Traditional cultivation treats it with systemic insecticides in combination with the removal of the affected plants. To prevent further infections it is recommended to stop growing cruciferous plants for 4 or 5 years, selecting noninfected seeds or sterilizing them with water at 45 ° C for half an hour.
- Cabbage hernia (Plasmodiophora brassicae) It is a fungal disease that leads to the destruction of the cauliflower roots. It is characterized by the presence of yellow bumps on the roots and stems. Roots grow excessively and the plant dies.
Once infection occurs, it is very difficult to eradicate it, so is advisable to take preventive methods, such as the need to stop growing brassicae for about 6 or 7 years in areas with possible infection, remove the infected material and select resistant seeds.
Soil acidification is one of the more factors that predispose the onset of this disease, hence the need to avoid or neutralize acid soils properly.
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