Cutworms/Wireworms!

[vicky]

I've had several of my seedling (PSB and Brussels) severed just under the soil. This seems to be common to wireworm and cutworm (I have seen both in the soil) - both a pest of newly cultivated grassland which is what my new veggie patch is!
The book says to rake in an insecticide (lindane) when planting but I'd rather not (assuming it's even still available).
Any tips for other controls of these pests?
Thanks!

[Flummery]

I thought lindane was banned? It proved lethal to bats when used in roof spaces against woodworm.

I'm fairly sure cultivation deters them but that's no use to you this year! There aren't any currently allowed chemicals - organic control is just by working the soil. It WILL get better!

[King Carrot]

For wireworm tie chunks of carrot to string, one chunk per foot of the ground you want to clear and then bury the carrots leaving the string above ground - pull up the carrots every day or so and inspect and remove the liddle buggers.

For cutworms saturate the ground with water and cover with plastic, cardboard or wood and leave overnight, check in the morning and any under that patch should have come to the surface ready to pick up and feed to the birds.

If you already have plants in the patch you could try saturation and then placing small flat things for them to get under - otherwise its carefully going through the soil with a small tool trying not to disturb any roots.

Cutworm eggs will not be laid on cultivated ground so you should be OK next year but wireworm can stay around 4-5 years until they mature.

good luck getting rid of them - you can get rid of them completely without chemicals but it can take persistance.

[always digging]

regular culitvation of your soil will get rid of them ,i had the same problem when i first took on my alotment keep digging your soil and rotate crops . wire worms like soil to be undisturbed so get cultivating

[Snadger]

Cutworms can easily be found and squished by digging the severed plant up and delving in the soil 3 or 4 inches below said plant. They are green/ grey and quite easy to see curled up waiting to come out after dark to do their dastardly deeds!

[vicky]

Right I shall be out with bits of carrot on strings and look completely barmy (or more so than I do already...). Thanks I love advice that verges on the bizarre I will enjoy seeing if this works!
I do recall seeing the cutworms under the tent when I move it so the saturating the ground business sounds like a very good idea!

[Glutton4...]

Take a couple of your Chooks with you next time you're digging the plot - they'll eat all the wrigglers you can turn up!

[vicky]

Hmmm they keep trying to invade the veggie garden but I think they may do more damage than the other pests! Plus being so spoilt they only eat worms nowadays...

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

I remember reading there is a green manure that helps to shift cutworm/wireworm. Sorry can't remember which but it's one that's left to grow over winter. Don't have time to Google as I'm leaving for work but if I find the name I'll let you know.

Both mustard and clover help to get rid of wireworm but they are not the one I'm thinking of.

[King Carrot]

I remember reading there is a green manure that helps to shift cutworm/wireworm. Sorry can't remember which but it's one that's left to grow over winter. Don't have time to Google as I'm leaving for work but if I find the name I'll let you know.

Both mustard and clover help to get rid of wireworm but they are not the one I'm thinking of.

I think with mustard and clover cutworms "eat" there way to maturity - not sure about wireworms though.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

I've just Googled do not use green manure to get rid of cutworms (it encourages egg laying), only use if you have a problem with wireworms. For cutworms use manure (so says Google) Still can't remember the green manure I'm thinking of

[Snadger]

I've just Googled do not use green manure to get rid of cutworms (it encourages egg laying), only use if you have a problem with wireworms. For cutworms use manure (so says Google) Still can't remember the green manure I'm thinking of

Caliente Mustard green manure has a biofumigant action to improve soil health and structure and reduce soil disease and weeds.

Possibly what you were thinking of FROSTY?