| Page 1 of 2 | 1 | 2 |
|
|
small worms in potatoes
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 |
small worms in potatoes
"Sacha" wrote in message ... On 11/1/07 15:25, in article , "Andy" wrote: 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. We were given a batch of potatoes something as you describe. Ray said baby slugs, possibly. ;-( I'm sure he is right, Ray that is, I had a lot of them in my potatoes last year, never had anything like that before, I did wonder whether it was restricted to maincrop, so this year I'm only going to use first earlies and second earlies. Alan |
small worms in potatoes
Andy wrote: 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. It's wireworms (Agriotes lineatus) and we've all had problems with them this year. I've heard of few reports on sciarid too, because of the weather, the flies made their ways to the potatoes more easily. Once the agriotes make a tunnel in the potatoes, the slugs get in there. Kestrel is nice, great chips! But you didn't have a disease problem, you had a pest problem :o) |
small worms in potatoes
La Puce wrote:
: Andy wrote: :: 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. : : It's wireworms (Agriotes lineatus) and we've all had problems with : them this year. I've heard of few reports on sciarid too, because of : the weather, the flies made their ways to the potatoes more easily. : Once the agriotes make a tunnel in the potatoes, the slugs get in : there. : : Kestrel is nice, great chips! But you didn't have a disease problem, : you had a pest problem :o) I agree with La Puce on this one |
small worms in potatoes
|
small worms in potatoes
"Andy" wrote 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. Did they look a bit stiff (wireworm) or soft a squidgy like a slug? -- Regards Bob H 17mls W. of London.UK |
small worms in potatoes
Squidgy like a slug.
I hadn't crossed my mind that it could be a slug problem. The allotment I'm using had been unused for years so maybe there were more problems with slugs than usual. I did grow some earlies and they weren't nearly as badly effected. I thought it was because they were a different variety. Interesting to see how popular Kestrel spuds are. I think I'll give them a go, last year I tried Verity, lovely for roasties but not too great for anything else. Bob Hobden wrote: "Andy" wrote 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. Did they look a bit stiff (wireworm) or soft a squidgy like a slug? -- Regards Bob H 17mls W. of London.UK |
small worms in potatoes
On 12/1/07 11:24, in article
, "Andy" wrote: Squidgy like a slug. I hadn't crossed my mind that it could be a slug problem. The allotment I'm using had been unused for years so maybe there were more problems with slugs than usual. I did grow some earlies and they weren't nearly as badly effected. I thought it was because they were a different variety. snip Some could be more prone to the problem than others, I wouldn't know. I'd suggest you do a little internet research on the use of Nematodes which are very effective. But the treatment must be kept up. -- Sacha http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/ |
small worms in potatoes
"Sacha" wrote in message ... On 12/1/07 11:24, in article , "Andy" wrote: Squidgy like a slug. I hadn't crossed my mind that it could be a slug problem. The allotment I'm using had been unused for years so maybe there were more problems with slugs than usual. I did grow some earlies and they weren't nearly as badly effected. I thought it was because they were a different variety. snip Some could be more prone to the problem than others, I wouldn't know. I'd suggest you do a little internet research on the use of Nematodes which are very effective. But the treatment must be kept up. But it can become expensive. Alan |
small worms in potatoes
On 12/1/07 16:07, in article ,
"Alan Holmes" wrote: "Sacha" wrote in message ... snip I'd suggest you do a little internet research on the use of Nematodes which are very effective. But the treatment must be kept up. But it can become expensive. 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. -- Sacha http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/ |
small worms in potatoes
"Andy" wrote in message
ups.com... 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? Did they curl up into a little circle? Too small at this stage to see legs, but I think what you saw were baby millipedes exploiting the damage done by slugs to gain access to the potato flesh. You'll see the same critters under a rotten strawberry for the same reason. So varieties not favoured by slugs and or the nematode parasite of slugs. For suitable varieties look up any of Bob's and my postings on the subject and you'll end up thoroughly confused ;~) On our heavy soil I like Desiree. -- Rod My real address is rodthegardeneratmyisp |
small worms in potatoes
"Sacha" wrote in message ... On 12/1/07 16:07, in article , "Alan Holmes" wrote: "Sacha" wrote in message ... snip I'd suggest you do a little internet research on the use of Nematodes which are very effective. But the treatment must be kept up. But it can become expensive. 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? Alan |
small worms in potatoes
"Andy" wrote after... Bob Hobden wrote in reply to "Andy" who wrote 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. Did they look a bit stiff (wireworm) or soft a squidgy like a slug? Squidgy like a slug. I hadn't crossed my mind that it could be a slug problem. The allotment I'm using had been unused for years so maybe there were more problems with slugs than usual. I did grow some earlies and they weren't nearly as badly effected. I thought it was because they were a different variety. Interesting to see how popular Kestrel spuds are. I think I'll give them a go, last year I tried Verity, lovely for roasties but not too great for anything else. 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. Our way to deal with this is to plant spuds that are a touch resistant to slug damage but still excellent for cooking, such as the ones we plant... Kestral ...SE Romano...MC (stores well) (red) Spey...MC others to try with good resistance are... Hermes Lady Rosetta Maritima Misdas Pentland Dell You will still get some damage and resistance does seem to differ depending on your soil etc, if one doesn't do too well for you try a different one next year etc.until you find one that works in your soil and you like the taste of. Better still go to a Potato Day and get a few tubers of each of them and trial them all this year, just make sure you label them well and keep them seperate after harvest so you know what to get next year. Potato Days, details at... http://thewhitchurchweb.org/potatoday/potatodays.htm ps. Verity ...SE does not appear to have been tested for slug resistance (or it has none) -- Regards Bob H 17mls W. of London.UK |
small worms in potatoes
On 12/1/07 18:48, in article , "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. -- Sacha http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/ |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:02 AM. |
|
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter