wireworms

Discussion in 'Pests, Diseases and Cures' started by chitting kaz, Jul 11, 2012.

  1. chitting kaz

    chitting kaz Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2011
    Messages:
    2,497
    Gender:
    Female
    Location:
    carmarthenshire
    Ratings:
    +2,616
    :gaah: all my early spuds (and prob the main crop too) wire worms, so what can i do ?
    :huh:
     
  2. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

    Ratings:
    +0
    You need a chicken.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Phil A

      Phil A Guest

      Ratings:
      +0
      Its a problem if you've stripped turf & then grown spuds in the same space, they haven't got any grass roots to eat:sad:
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • Freddy

        Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

        Joined:
        Jul 15, 2007
        Messages:
        9,466
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired - yay!
        Location:
        Bristol
        Ratings:
        +12,518
        What a pain! They can totally ruin a crop. It might be best to check your maincrop and if necessary, dig up the rest before they do too much damage. Only thing is that digging up the maincrop at this time will mean that they aren't yet ripe, so will probably not store well.
         
      • clueless1

        clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

        Joined:
        Jan 8, 2008
        Messages:
        17,778
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Here
        Ratings:
        +19,597
        Out of curiosity, how do you know its wireworm? Is that where your tatties are full of tiny holes or is that something else?
         
      • chitting kaz

        chitting kaz Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Mar 10, 2011
        Messages:
        2,497
        Gender:
        Female
        Location:
        carmarthenshire
        Ratings:
        +2,616
        yes full of holes and they had Tuber1.jpg every where! this is not my spud just a pic i have found to show you

        my main crop is alot further up the plot i am hoping that as there was no grass it will be less affected ? !:what:
         
      • chitting kaz

        chitting kaz Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Mar 10, 2011
        Messages:
        2,497
        Gender:
        Female
        Location:
        carmarthenshire
        Ratings:
        +2,616
        may just leave um where they are then, and dig as i need too if they arent going to keep :ouch1:
         
      • chitting kaz

        chitting kaz Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Mar 10, 2011
        Messages:
        2,497
        Gender:
        Female
        Location:
        carmarthenshire
        Ratings:
        +2,616
        half the plot had gone back to grass Ziggy :gaah:
         
      • Phil A

        Phil A Guest

        Ratings:
        +0
        Bummer Kaz, got some good fishing bait there though:blue thumb:
         
      • chitting kaz

        chitting kaz Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Mar 10, 2011
        Messages:
        2,497
        Gender:
        Female
        Location:
        carmarthenshire
        Ratings:
        +2,616
        when you comming to get me then ziggy?:WINK1:
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • Steve R

          Steve R Soil Furtler

          Joined:
          Feb 15, 2008
          Messages:
          3,892
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Carer
          Location:
          Cumbria
          Ratings:
          +3,702
          Best to get some green manure planted Kaz when the spuds come out, use "Mustard" as the manure. This does two things..1) It feeds the wireworm which speeds up their life cycle to adulthood where they will then leave the soil and not return (unless the grass does) 2) It feeds the soil with a nitrogen rich crop which can be dug in at the end of the season. The other benefit is that it stops weeds growing at the tail end of the season too.

          I bought mine from here last year http://www.thegrassseedstore.co.uk/?gclid=CJm5o_rckrECFWJItAodk3sSjg and will shortly be buying some more along with some winter rye.

          Steve...:)
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • clueless1

            clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

            Joined:
            Jan 8, 2008
            Messages:
            17,778
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Here
            Ratings:
            +19,597
            I lost a whole crop, half an allotment worth, like that once about 20 years ago. At the time I blamed slugs because I'd never heard of wireworm then.
             
          • Scrungee

            Scrungee Well known for it

            Joined:
            Dec 5, 2010
            Messages:
            16,524
            Location:
            Central England on heavy clay soil
            Ratings:
            +28,997
            You can cut some of the ruined/unusable spuds in half, push short sticks in them and shallow bury them amongst your other potatoes to attract any wireworms in that bed, using the sticks to pull them up and remove any wireworms in them every few days.
             
            • Like Like x 5
            • chitting kaz

              chitting kaz Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Mar 10, 2011
              Messages:
              2,497
              Gender:
              Female
              Location:
              carmarthenshire
              Ratings:
              +2,616
              thanks steve i think i will give this ago, i had planned on manuering at the end of the season so would i still plant the rye or just cover like i had planned ?
               
            • Steve R

              Steve R Soil Furtler

              Joined:
              Feb 15, 2008
              Messages:
              3,892
              Gender:
              Male
              Occupation:
              Carer
              Location:
              Cumbria
              Ratings:
              +3,702
              Use the mustard (summer manure) for the wireworm, and hungarian rye (winter manure) over the winter if you wish, or cover the ground.

              Steve...:)
               
              • Like Like x 1
              Loading...
              Similar Threads - wireworms
              1. sawfish
                Replies:
                2
                Views:
                514

              Share This Page

              1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                Dismiss Notice