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Little white grubs in strawberry pots

a_good_brewa_good_brew Posts: 46
in Problem solving
Hi.
I transplanted some ~2 year old strawberry plants from old containers into a nice big new one with fresh compost at the weekend and after transplanting I noticed that the soil in the old pots contained about 15-20 little white grubs, each about 10 cm below the surface and each one probably 1 cm long.  Does anyone know what they are, and if they're a problem?  I'm hoping I haven't transferred a problem into the new planter...maybe I should have just bought new strawberry plants!

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Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I'm guessing vine weevil ?
  • Hampshire_HogHampshire_Hog Posts: 1,089
    Vine weevil. Treat the soil with nematodes ASAP

    "You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
  • HelixHelix Posts: 631
    Do they look like this? As these are vine weevil grubs.....evil, evil, evil!

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    The OP’s are about to hatch out,  they aren’t at the grub stage now, the birds love them, depends on how much of the roots have been chewed, I don’t find strawberry plant recover well from an attack. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • a_good_brewa_good_brew Posts: 46
    OK thanks everyone!  I have ordered some nematodes, and will buy some new strawberries too.  Thanks.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    If you can tip the compost onto the ground  (concrete not soil) you will do the birds a favour, they’re feeding young now and will love those. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    It's a bit drastic but after you get most of the soil off as said above  you can dip then in a bucket of water and wash all the soil off & start again with clean compost, if you have any give them a soak in dilute seaweed tonic before you re-pot, use a soil based compost, it makes it harder for the adults to get in & lay their eggs. 
    AB Still learning

  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    I've just repotted a lot of mine after a vine weevil grub attack and they seem to be making new roots. I caught them in time to save a recent chunk of root though and did as Allotment Boy says above. I doubt they will fruit this year but I have tons of plants ready for next year now at least.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I’ve saved some, but others didn’t revive. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    I've definitely lost a few but they were due a good repotting and dividing anyway so that probably helped. I've always grown them in molehill soil from my dad's garden but I went to get more and he's had the pest control people in :/ Hopefully John Innes will do the job just as well.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
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