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Old 12-01-2007, 06:59 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
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Default small worms in potatoes

On 12/1/07 18:48, in article ,
"Alan Holmes" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
...

snip


It can but it's probably cheaper than losing an entire allotment full of
veg. ;-( And a lot of people don't want to use pellets or sprays on
stuff
they're going to eat.


True, but pellets cannot be absorbed by potatoes, surely?

But the stuff in them leaches into the ground when it rains and must be in
the nutrients the potatoes absorb, surely?
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

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Old 12-01-2007, 07:03 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
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Default small worms in potatoes


"Sacha" wrote after "Bob
Hobden" wrote:

snip
We have a constant problem with slugs both on the previous allotment and
the
new one.
Tried Nematodes, rather expensive and no discernable difference to other
years, they need the ground kept nice and moist which can be difficult
here
some summers. Cheaper to buy organic spuds ready grown.


Is the keeping the ground moist problem due to a hosepipe ban for you,
Bob?
I ask because, otherwise, those wishing to use nematodes might not have
that
problem. It's not just the potatoes, though, it's the other goodies slugs
just lurve.


Our Council do not allow the use of hosepipes on any of their allotments
ever. So keeping a potato bed damp with watering cans, especially in a
summer like we had last year, is a backbreaking and virtually impossible
job.
I also wonder if those tiny nematodes don't like clay soil, find it hard to
move through.

--
Regards
Bob H
17mls W. of London.UK


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Old 12-01-2007, 07:10 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
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Default small worms in potatoes

On 12/1/07 19:03, in article , "Bob
Hobden" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote after "Bob
Hobden" wrote:

snip
We have a constant problem with slugs both on the previous allotment and
the
new one.
Tried Nematodes, rather expensive and no discernable difference to other
years, they need the ground kept nice and moist which can be difficult
here
some summers. Cheaper to buy organic spuds ready grown.


Is the keeping the ground moist problem due to a hosepipe ban for you,
Bob?
I ask because, otherwise, those wishing to use nematodes might not have
that
problem. It's not just the potatoes, though, it's the other goodies slugs
just lurve.


Our Council do not allow the use of hosepipes on any of their allotments
ever. So keeping a potato bed damp with watering cans, especially in a
summer like we had last year, is a backbreaking and virtually impossible
job.


Ah, that's what I thought might be the case. Let's hope this winter
alleviates that for you. Right now and round here, we have more water than
we know what to do with!

I also wonder if those tiny nematodes don't like clay soil, find it hard to
move through.


I don't know but later on, I'll see if Ray does.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

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Old 13-01-2007, 12:34 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening
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Default small worms in potatoes

In message . com, Andy
wrote

Squidgy like a slug.


A couple of days ago I lifted a 2ftx3ft plastic tray that had been left
on the soil for the last three months. There were around 200 baby snails
underneath. I suspect that if we don't get a prolonged period of frost
this year those of us 'down south' are going to have a major problem
with slimly pests eating _everything_ next spring.


--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com
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Old 13-01-2007, 12:35 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening
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Default small worms in potatoes

In message , Sacha
wrote
On 12/1/07 18:48, in article ,
"Alan Holmes" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
...

snip


It can but it's probably cheaper than losing an entire allotment full of
veg. ;-( And a lot of people don't want to use pellets or sprays on
stuff
they're going to eat.


True, but pellets cannot be absorbed by potatoes, surely?

But the stuff in them leaches into the ground when it rains and must be in
the nutrients the potatoes absorb, surely?


Surely the same could be said for horse manure?
--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com


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Old 13-01-2007, 11:53 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening
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Default small worms in potatoes


"Alan" wrote in message
...
In message , Sacha


wrote
On 12/1/07 18:48, in article

,
"Alan Holmes" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
...

snip


It can but it's probably cheaper than losing an entire allotment

full of
veg. ;-( And a lot of people don't want to use pellets or sprays

on
stuff
they're going to eat.

True, but pellets cannot be absorbed by potatoes, surely?

But the stuff in them leaches into the ground when it rains and must

be in
the nutrients the potatoes absorb, surely?


Surely the same could be said for horse manure?


Metaldehyde is toxic to animals, and I'd say use it only if desperate;
but since it isn't water-soluble, it can't get into your potatoes. Keep
it off the surface of edible crops, don't breathe the dust, and in
normal practice there's no known danger to humans. People use far too
much of it, though: following the slug-pellet instructions is just as
effective as chucking it about in handfuls.

--
Mike.



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

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Old 21-03-2007, 02:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy View Post
Hi,

I'm new to growing my own veg and last year I grew potatoes for the
first time. Although I had some success I lost around one third of my
crop. The main pest was a small greyish coloured worm that borrowed
into the potato. I originality thought this was eel worm but I gather
they are very small, these pests were around 4mm.

Does anyone know what this pest might be and what I could do? The best
approach I can think off at the moment is to order a different variety
to last year, maybe some thing disease resistant like Kestrel.

Thanks,
Andy
If as many suspect they are slugs then I would use nematodes to protect your potatoes. These work underground and are very effective. Don't forget the majority of slugs live underground. As soon as the frosts go I will be planting my earlies but before doing so I will be drenching the ground with nematodes. Slugs were laying their eggs late into the autumn last year and this coupled with the mild winter and lots of damp weather will probably mean we will be inundated with the criters this year. Hope this helps. Gardening Sue
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