Potato disaster

[Wessie]

Have just dug up potatoes and have had to throw most of them away as they are riddled with worms and slugs. We used slug nematodes on the soil before planting them and our compost bins had lots of small worms in the lid so we threw these onto the garden as well, could this have made a difference or is it just the bad summer we've had, any help would be appreciated as we don't want to make the same mistakes next year (we are growing main crop"Cara")

[Arthur Pounder]

I had a huge slug problem this year, and someone gave me a link to this site.

It seems my variety along with your Cara has a high susceptibility to slug damage.

I've not tried nematodes, but next year, I'm swapping to Kestrel and see if there's an improvement.

[arpoet]

Yep... my Cara were a disaster too, riddled with worm holes. In total of 6 varieties i think premier were the cleanest, but all yealds were low. I have just about broke even on the cost of seed taties vs the yeald costed at retail value.
Roger

[bearded bloke]

My Cara also were had at there is a similar thread running that may give ideas ......... http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...uds_60835.html


Which bit of Shropshire Arthur ?

[Wessie]

Pleased to know it's probably not something we're doing as we're novices at all of this, but will try again next year with a different variety

[bearded bloke]

Was the soil warm enough when you applied the nematodes I wonder,I did not use them but certainly will next year

Anyhoo just so you know you are not alone,the worst so far .......



& it's other face is no better ....

[Two_Sheds]

Those worms are composting worms - they live in compost and eat soft decaying matter, not spuds.

[Wessie]

thanks did wonder about worms, husband gets a bit enthusiastic still nice to know it's not them.

[Two_Sheds]

Can you describe the worms you DID find in your spuds? Were they orangey, kind of wiry looking?

[Dead Dogs]

....... but next year, I'm swapping to Kestrel and see if there's an improvement.

I can confirm Kestrels are a good choice. Grew them this year next to Setanta with no slug damage. The Setanta is another story and post.

[Qzy]

This is my 2nd year growing Cara and there has only been miniscule slug damage as I used Nematodes. However, there was a lot of damage on my Maris Piper, even with the nematodes - I won't bother with then next year as there was quite a bit of scab on them also. I grew Caitriona alongside Cara and there was no damage, nor was there any on my Sharpes Express or Epicure earlier in the season.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Cara are the world's worst for attracting slugs. You say you applied nematodes before planting but with spuds, the nematodes should be applied at earthing up time so that the nematodes are then directly into the soil where the spuds will be developing. That is also where the keeled slugs that do the damage will be so perhaps a wee change in technique next time as well as a change of spud variety. kestrel is a brilliantly versatile spud btw

[tattieman]

Yeah the keel slug will be the culprit. You never see them and you only know they have been there once you harvest the spuds. If I remember I applied nemaslug at the end of June and then at the end of July.

That seemed to protect the crops and I did find slugs but they were dead.

I think the secret is that the soil must be easy for the nematodes to get through so earthed up soil is ideal. It must be a reasonable warmth and the soil must be dampish. If the soil is baked hard then the nematodes will not get into the soil.

[Thelma Sanders]

Cara are the world's worst for attracting slugs.

Funny you should say that jba seed potatoes seem to suggest they are slug resistant!
jbaseedpotatoes.co.uk

[tattieman]

Oh no I had better get my coat
What you have got to remember is that the slugs in Aberdeen are tougher than the ones down south so they can chew on anything.

They are classed as being slug resistant but that does not mean they will not be damaged by slugs. It just means they are less likely to be damaged,