Bad potato crop

spes123

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Nov 8, 2009, 7:27:31 AM11/8/09

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Due to a severe bad back during the summer and early autumn I have TODAY
harvested all of my potatoes and it was not a very pretty sight. I may
have enough potatoes for one meal for one person. Every single tuber
was full of holes and eaten away inside leaving just the skin. Inside
the tubers I found short 1.5 - 2cm black slugs and also two different
coloured worms. Any suggestions as to the best way to dispose of these
infected tubers would be appreciated, I don't want to put them on the
compost nor do I want to leave them on the ground.

--
spes123

Omelet

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Nov 8, 2009, 12:27:20 PM11/8/09

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In article <spes123...@gardenbanter.co.uk>,
spes123 <spes123...@gardenbanter.co.uk> wrote:

Seriously, I'd burn them.

What kind of media were your potatoes growing in?
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Bud

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Nov 8, 2009, 6:31:11 PM11/8/09

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Omelet wrote:
>
> Seriously, I'd burn them.
>
> What kind of media were your potatoes growing in?

I think the mice got them if there is nothing left but the skins.
Happened to me too.

As far as those lil bugs, they don't eat much and the worms just like your
soil and maybe compost?
--
Bud

Darrell Ulm

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Nov 8, 2009, 10:24:50 PM11/8/09

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That is tough luck. We had a few of these, and some were eaten
completely from the inside. What is a good deterrent?

Darrell Ulm

spes123

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Nov 9, 2009, 6:11:34 AM11/9/09

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'Omelet[_4_ Wrote:
> ;868905']In article spes123...@gardenbanter.co.uk,
> spes123 spes123...@gardenbanter.co.uk wrote:
> -

> Due to a severe bad back during the summer and early autumn I have
> TODAY
> harvested all of my potatoes and it was not a very pretty sight. I
> may
> have enough potatoes for one meal for one person. Every single tuber
> was full of holes and eaten away inside leaving just the skin.
> Inside
> the tubers I found short 1.5 - 2cm black slugs and also two different
> coloured worms. Any suggestions as to the best way to dispose of
> these
> infected tubers would be appreciated, I don't want to put them on the

> compost nor do I want to leave them on the ground.-

>
> Seriously, I'd burn them.
>
> What kind of media were your potatoes growing in?
> --
>

They were growing in a clay based soil

--
spes123

Omelet

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Nov 9, 2009, 2:54:18 PM11/9/09

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In article <spes123...@gardenbanter.co.uk>,
spes123 <spes123...@gardenbanter.co.uk> wrote:

Mm, you probably need to add sand to give you better drainage and keep
them a bit dryer.

gunner

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Nov 10, 2009, 11:21:26 AM11/10/09

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"Omelet" <ompo...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ompomelet-598F6...@news-wc.giganews.com...

Sounds like Keel slugs.

If the spuds are only slug damaged, no disease, you can safely compost
them.

here are some slug tips:

http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/medwyn-williams-vegetable-grow-show-300.html

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7427.html

http://www.ghorganics.com/page13.html

adding sand to clay is not a good solution in most cases. a fine bark
works much better here in the PNW. More here:
http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/~Linda%20Chalker-Scott/Horticultural%20Myths_files/Myths/Amendments%202.pdf

If you are concerned about your soil, a 13$ good soil analysis would save a
whole lot of guessing and unnecessary work to correct a problem you might
not have.