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Vine weevil larvae
turmeric
Posts: 830
I've just found vine weevil larvae in a huge pot of rhubarb. Suffice to say the rhubarb is dead (which is why I was investigating its roots). I've emptied all the compost out and picked out all the larvae that I can find and I'll do it again tomorrow (it's spread on a large tarp). My question is what to do with such a lot of compost? If I think I've got every last grubbly can I reuse it or am I pushing my luck? Can another infestation come from 'the one that got away'
If I buy some nematodes it'll cost me more than a new bag of compost so a bit pointless I think and none of the other pots are showing any signs of a slow death so this might have been contained.
Any suggestions for what to do with so much compost?
Many thanks
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Posts
I'd spread it out on a bare patch of soil on the veg patch ... the birds will come and get any larvae you've missed, then I'd rake it into the veg patch to improve the soil structure.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
They're a real pain
Follow Dove's advice and spread it out on a border for the birds to root about in.
Keep an eye on your other pots - just in case. Fingers crossed they're ok
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks Dove and Fairygirl. I've covered it tonight in case a cat uses it all as a toilet
But after I've sifted through it again tomorrow I'll spread it on the beds. Garden's not big enough for veg patch Dove, my veg patch is five pots and this was one of them!
I shall keep a close eye out for any more symptoms, thanks Fairygirl.
You could put it in your compost bin when the birds have had a go. It isn't ideal to re-use compost from pots anyway. Fresh is best.