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Wireworm problem.

KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
edited July 2019 in Fruit & veg
Started lifting my spuds and a lot are affected by wireworm.  Mostly minor and still usable, but is there anything I can to stop it happening next year?

Just read the RHS site and it may be slug damage, but the question is still the same for next year.

Posts

  • HelixHelix Posts: 631
    If it’s wireworm then nematodes....makes your spuds a lot less economical but you shouldn’t have to treat every year.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    The reason I raised the possibility of it being slug damage, is that the RHS site said the wireworm often leave no external signs.  On my spuds there are small holes going in maybe 1/4" in most cases.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If you keep chickens turn them out into the potato patch for a few days ... they love wireworms  🐓 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    Wire worms leave small circular holes and you will often find one half in/out of the hole, slugs leave bigger and often irregular holes. Commercially there is no control for wireworm, there are some trails of a fungus happening in Canada I believe. Best control is rotation to crops they don't like. but a wireworm can be in the soil for 5 years before it becomes a beetle. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (nematodes) might work as they do kill bettle larva which is what wire worm are, but I cannot find a reference (that is not trying to sell them!) that lists them for wireworm.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Thanks for the suggestions.  I don't keep chickens and have no plans to introduce them :-)
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    KT53 said:
    Thanks for the suggestions.  I don't keep chickens and have no plans to introduce them :-)
    💡 maybe borrow a few from a neighbour just for a couple of days? They’re the most effective treatment I know 😉 

    🙄... I’ll get my coat ..... 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Hampshire_HogHampshire_Hog Posts: 1,089
    To distinguish wireworm damage from slug damage in potatoes, cut an affected tuber into quarters to expose the tunnelling. Wireworm damage will consist of thin holes whereas slug damage will have hollowed out large parts of the potato tuber.

    "You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
  • neilbradburnneilbradburn Posts: 142
    Hi all,
    Other than digging over the plot and pulling the little blighters out - they are fairly conspicuous, I seem to recall another option is decoy traps of buried carrot/potato.

    Or just wait out the 4/5 years and avoid planting roots there until then... :-)

    kind regards
    Neil
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Dovefromabove said:
    KT53 said:
    Thanks for the suggestions.  I don't keep chickens and have no plans to introduce them :-)
    💡 maybe borrow a few from a neighbour just for a couple of days? They’re the most effective treatment I know 😉 

    🙄... I’ll get my coat ..... 
    I live a couple of miles from a fairly large city so hens are somewhat limited in their availability.  Thanks for the idea though. :)
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    You might be surprised ... we live less than 2 miles from Norwich city hall  ... there are hens just two gardens up from us .... but I get what you’re saying 😊 👍

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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