Hi,

I'm new to growing my own veg and last year I grew potatoes for the
first time. Although I had some success I lost around one third of my
crop. The main pest was a small greyish coloured worm that borrowed
into the potato. I originality thought this was eel worm but I gather
they are very small, these pests were around 4mm.

Does anyone know what this pest might be and what I could do? The best
approach I can think off at the moment is to order a different variety
to last year, maybe some thing disease resistant like Kestrel.

Thanks,
Andy

On 11/1/07 15:25, in article
, "Andy"
wrote:

Hi,

I'm new to growing my own veg and last year I grew potatoes for the
first time. Although I had some success I lost around one third of my
crop. The main pest was a small greyish coloured worm that borrowed
into the potato. I originality thought this was eel worm but I gather
they are very small, these pests were around 4mm.

Does anyone know what this pest might be and what I could do? The best
approach I can think off at the moment is to order a different variety
to last year, maybe some thing disease resistant like Kestrel.

We were given a batch of potatoes something as you describe. Ray said baby
slugs, possibly. ;-(
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 11/1/07 15:25, in article
, "Andy"
wrote:

Hi,

I'm new to growing my own veg and last year I grew potatoes for the
first time. Although I had some success I lost around one third of my
crop. The main pest was a small greyish coloured worm that borrowed
into the potato. I originality thought this was eel worm but I gather
they are very small, these pests were around 4mm.

Does anyone know what this pest might be and what I could do? The best
approach I can think off at the moment is to order a different variety
to last year, maybe some thing disease resistant like Kestrel.

We were given a batch of potatoes something as you describe. Ray said
baby
slugs, possibly. ;-(

I'm sure he is right, Ray that is, I had a lot of them in my potatoes last
year, never had anything like that before, I did wonder whether it was
restricted to maincrop, so this year I'm only going to use first earlies and
second earlies.

Alan

Andy wrote:
Hi,

I'm new to growing my own veg and last year I grew potatoes for the
first time. Although I had some success I lost around one third of my
crop. The main pest was a small greyish coloured worm that borrowed
into the potato. I originality thought this was eel worm but I gather
they are very small, these pests were around 4mm.
Does anyone know what this pest might be and what I could do? The best
approach I can think off at the moment is to order a different variety
to last year, maybe some thing disease resistant like Kestrel.

It's wireworms (Agriotes lineatus) and we've all had problems with them
this year. I've heard of few reports on sciarid too, because of the
weather, the flies made their ways to the potatoes more easily. Once
the agriotes make a tunnel in the potatoes, the slugs get in there.

Kestrel is nice, great chips! But you didn't have a disease problem,
you had a pest problem )

La Puce wrote:
: Andy wrote:
:: Hi,
::
:: I'm new to growing my own veg and last year I grew potatoes for the
:: first time. Although I had some success I lost around one third of
:: my crop. The main pest was a small greyish coloured worm that
:: borrowed into the potato. I originality thought this was eel worm
:: but I gather they are very small, these pests were around 4mm.
:: Does anyone know what this pest might be and what I could do? The
:: best approach I can think off at the moment is to order a different
:: variety to last year, maybe some thing disease resistant like
:: Kestrel.
:
: It's wireworms (Agriotes lineatus) and we've all had problems with
: them this year. I've heard of few reports on sciarid too, because of
: the weather, the flies made their ways to the potatoes more easily.
: Once the agriotes make a tunnel in the potatoes, the slugs get in
: there.
:
: Kestrel is nice, great chips! But you didn't have a disease problem,
: you had a pest problem )

I agree with La Puce on this one

In article . com, says...
Hi,

I'm new to growing my own veg and last year I grew potatoes for the
first time. Although I had some success I lost around one third of my
crop. The main pest was a small greyish coloured worm that borrowed
into the potato. I originality thought this was eel worm but I gather
they are very small, these pests were around 4mm.

Does anyone know what this pest might be and what I could do? The best
approach I can think off at the moment is to order a different variety
to last year, maybe some thing disease resistant like Kestrel.

Thanks,
Andy

They are most likely first hatch slugs. Growing n early maincrop like
kestrel (a lovely spud and one of my favourites) will help because you
will get the crop out of the ground before infestation levels get too
high.

"Andy" wrote
I'm new to growing my own veg and last year I grew potatoes for the
first time. Although I had some success I lost around one third of my
crop. The main pest was a small greyish coloured worm that borrowed
into the potato. I originality thought this was eel worm but I gather
they are very small, these pests were around 4mm.

Does anyone know what this pest might be and what I could do? The best
approach I can think off at the moment is to order a different variety
to last year, maybe some thing disease resistant like Kestrel.


Did they look a bit stiff (wireworm) or soft a squidgy like a slug?

--
Regards
Bob H
17mls W. of London.UK

Squidgy like a slug.

I hadn't crossed my mind that it could be a slug problem.
The allotment I'm using had been unused for years so maybe there were
more problems with slugs than usual. I did grow some earlies and they
weren't nearly as badly effected. I thought it was because they were a
different variety.

Interesting to see how popular Kestrel spuds are. I think I'll give
them a go, last year I tried Verity, lovely for roasties but not too
great for anything else.

Bob Hobden wrote:
"Andy" wrote
I'm new to growing my own veg and last year I grew potatoes for the
first time. Although I had some success I lost around one third of my
crop. The main pest was a small greyish coloured worm that borrowed
into the potato. I originality thought this was eel worm but I gather
they are very small, these pests were around 4mm.

Does anyone know what this pest might be and what I could do? The best
approach I can think off at the moment is to order a different variety
to last year, maybe some thing disease resistant like Kestrel.


Did they look a bit stiff (wireworm) or soft a squidgy like a slug?

--
Regards
Bob H
17mls W. of London.UK

On 12/1/07 11:24, in article
, "Andy"
wrote:

Squidgy like a slug.

I hadn't crossed my mind that it could be a slug problem.
The allotment I'm using had been unused for years so maybe there were
more problems with slugs than usual. I did grow some earlies and they
weren't nearly as badly effected. I thought it was because they were a
different variety.

snip

Some could be more prone to the problem than others, I wouldn't know. I'd
suggest you do a little internet research on the use of Nematodes which are
very effective. But the treatment must be kept up.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 12/1/07 11:24, in article
, "Andy"
wrote:

Squidgy like a slug.

I hadn't crossed my mind that it could be a slug problem.
The allotment I'm using had been unused for years so maybe there were
more problems with slugs than usual. I did grow some earlies and they
weren't nearly as badly effected. I thought it was because they were a
different variety.

snip

Some could be more prone to the problem than others, I wouldn't know. I'd
suggest you do a little internet research on the use of Nematodes which
are
very effective. But the treatment must be kept up.

But it can become expensive.

Alan

On 12/1/07 16:07, in article ,
"Alan Holmes" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
...
snip
I'd
suggest you do a little internet research on the use of Nematodes which
are
very effective. But the treatment must be kept up.

But it can become expensive.


It can but it's probably cheaper than losing an entire allotment full of
veg. ;-( And a lot of people don't want to use pellets or sprays on stuff
they're going to eat.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

"Andy" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi,

I'm new to growing my own veg and last year I grew potatoes for the
first time. Although I had some success I lost around one third of
my
crop. The main pest was a small greyish coloured worm that borrowed
into the potato. I originality thought this was eel worm but I
gather
they are very small, these pests were around 4mm.

Does anyone know what this pest might be and what I could do?
Did they curl up into a little circle? Too small at this stage to see
legs, but I think what you saw were baby millipedes exploiting the
damage done by slugs to gain access to the potato flesh. You'll see
the same critters under a rotten strawberry for the same reason.
So varieties not favoured by slugs and or the nematode parasite of
slugs. For suitable varieties look up any of Bob's and my postings on
the subject and you'll end up thoroughly confused ;~) On our heavy
soil I like Desiree.
--
Rod

My real address is rodthegardeneratmyisp

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 12/1/07 16:07, in article ,
"Alan Holmes" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
...
snip
I'd
suggest you do a little internet research on the use of Nematodes which
are
very effective. But the treatment must be kept up.

But it can become expensive.


It can but it's probably cheaper than losing an entire allotment full of
veg. ;-( And a lot of people don't want to use pellets or sprays on
stuff
they're going to eat.

True, but pellets cannot be absorbed by potatoes, surely?

Alan

"Andy" wrote after...
Bob Hobden wrote in reply to
"Andy" who wrote
I'm new to growing my own veg and last year I grew potatoes for the
first time. Although I had some success I lost around one third of my
crop. The main pest was a small greyish coloured worm that borrowed
into the potato. I originality thought this was eel worm but I gather
they are very small, these pests were around 4mm.

Does anyone know what this pest might be and what I could do? The best
approach I can think off at the moment is to order a different variety
to last year, maybe some thing disease resistant like Kestrel.


Did they look a bit stiff (wireworm) or soft a squidgy like a slug?

Squidgy like a slug.

I hadn't crossed my mind that it could be a slug problem.
The allotment I'm using had been unused for years so maybe there were
more problems with slugs than usual. I did grow some earlies and they
weren't nearly as badly effected. I thought it was because they were a
different variety.

Interesting to see how popular Kestrel spuds are. I think I'll give
them a go, last year I tried Verity, lovely for roasties but not too
great for anything else.


We have a constant problem with slugs both on the previous allotment and the
new one.
Tried Nematodes, rather expensive and no discernable difference to other
years, they need the ground kept nice and moist which can be difficult here
some summers. Cheaper to buy organic spuds ready grown.

Our way to deal with this is to plant spuds that are a touch resistant to
slug damage but still excellent for cooking,
such as the ones we plant...
Kestral ...SE
Romano...MC (stores well) (red)
Spey...MC

others to try with good resistance are...
Hermes
Lady Rosetta
Maritima
Misdas
Pentland Dell

You will still get some damage and resistance does seem to differ depending
on your soil etc, if one doesn't do too well for you try a different one
next year etc.until you find one that works in your soil and you like the
taste of. Better still go to a Potato Day and get a few tubers of each of
them and trial them all this year, just make sure you label them well and
keep them seperate after harvest so you know what to get next year.

Potato Days, details at...
http://thewhitchurchweb.org/potatoday/potatodays.htm

ps. Verity ...SE does not appear to have been tested for slug resistance
(or it has none)


--
Regards
Bob H
17mls W. of London.UK

On 12/1/07 18:48, in article , "Bob
Hobden" wrote:

snip
We have a constant problem with slugs both on the previous allotment and the
new one.
Tried Nematodes, rather expensive and no discernable difference to other
years, they need the ground kept nice and moist which can be difficult here
some summers. Cheaper to buy organic spuds ready grown.


Is the keeping the ground moist problem due to a hosepipe ban for you, Bob?
I ask because, otherwise, those wishing to use nematodes might not have that
problem. It's not just the potatoes, though, it's the other goodies slugs
just lurve.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/