Potatoes

[earthworm]

Hi,

I dug over a patch of grass into a vegetable plot last year. I planted spuds in it, and they ended up infested with red looking slug things. Somebody on here advised me that this happens in land taken from grass.

Now, I planted some cabbage in there this year, but that cats wrecked them. However, spuds are growing there again. I thought I'd dug them all out, but there must be loads still in there.

Will they get the red slug of doom again? I could try and plant something else in there and get rid of them if so.

[diggernotdreamer]

If only there was an easy answer. Did the slugs get into the tubers or just the leaves? The only thing you can do is to be vigilant. Go out with a torch in the evening and pick off as many as you can get to. Put down some bran and cover with a pot on a few stones so as the slugs can get underneath, they eat the bran and then blow up and die. If only we could predict what pests would come year on year, if would be a wonderful thing, gardening is full of pitfalls no two years are ever the same, you just have to be prepared for whatever is thrown at you

[earthworm]

Ay up, thanks for the advice!

They were actually in the potatoes themselves, not the leaves. It was like they'd burrowed in there to nest or something, 'orrible little boggers.

[diggernotdreamer]

Probably wireworms, have a look at this info http://www.potato.org.uk/sites/default/ ... tsheet.pdf

[earthworm]

Should I be thinking about starting to dig these up now maybe? I was hoping I could at least have new potatoes before the wireworm set in?

[diggernotdreamer]

I just been tickling out some early potatoes from outside last few days, I am going to have to start watering them soon as the ground is so dry,.................. yes watering in Ireland, unbelieveable

[doofaloofa]

Hey Earthworm

Post a pick of the pests

Potatos are a great clearing crop

The cultivation of them clears pest and perenial weeds and helps to condition the soil for vegitable growing

after a fewyears you will probably find the problems that you face now will subside

...only to be replaced by fresh challenges. that is what i love about gardening. It's such a dynamic hobby

[Pumkinpie]

First potatoes of the season .
Yummy