Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Insect problem with Potatoes

Leonard 2Leonard 2 Posts: 18
in Problem solving

Hello.

I hope some one can help me.

I have had an allotment for the last 9 years and no matter what I do my Potatoes always have holes in from insects, worms etc.

My question is, does any one know how I can eradicate this?.

Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906

    Hi Leonard. There is a possibility that the creatures causing the holes in your potatoes (am I right in assuming you mean the potatoes themselves?) are keeled slugs which become a nuisance in August. They are the small, dark coloured slugs that live underground. Nematode treatment could help with the problem.

    Last edited: 11 August 2017 17:41:08

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    Keeled slugs are a real nuisance, especially in clay soils.  For years they devastated my potato crops.  Nematodes helped but planting slug resistant varieties has completely solved the problem for me.  Try Kestrel (2nd early) and Sarpo Axona (also blight resistant) for maincrop.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Leonard 2Leonard 2 Posts: 18

    Hello.

    Ladybird and Bob the gardener, thank you for your advice, I will try Nematodes and the different varieties for next year.

Sign In or Register to comment.