[Leapyear]

Hi All

Having dug over my new allotment,which has had several years neglect,I plan on putting in a fairly large bed of potatoe's.
 As the plot was full of couch grass and remembering back to when I first dug over a lawn only to find my crop of spuds riddled with wireworm
Is there anything I can use before the spuds go in to stop this happening again :?:

[agapanthus]

When I first had my allotment it had been lain empty for many years and I had trouble with wireworms  :cry:  They attacked everything! All I could do was wait. It takes about 3 or 4 years to be rid of them completely. They eventually grow into click beetles. Best to lift your potatoes before September....this is when they do the most damage. I never found anything that would completely get rid of them It's going to be the same for us up here.....again it's old grassland that has'nt been cultivated for a long, long time. Sorry I can't give you much hope.

[Dabhand]

Would raised beds help?  I know it's a lot more hard work but if it means beating the wireworm it could be worth it.

[Aunt Sally]

Best to lift your potatoes before September....this is when they do the most damage.

My present allotment was derelict for 4 years before we took it over, though why there should be derelict allotments beats me, still I digress.  I am only growing first and second earlies for a few years.  I had no trouble wil the first earlies and minimal problem with the seconds.

[Leapyear]

Thank's everyone,look like the answer is to lift before September

Oh and hope  

[Leapyear]

Would raised beds help?  I know it's a lot more hard work but if it means beating the wireworm it could be worth it.

Does this work :?:

[agapanthus]

Would raised beds help?  I know it's a lot more hard work but if it means beating the wireworm it could be worth it.

No.....that's how I grew mine

[gobs]

There is a trapping method you could use, I shall find it for you, if you would like to try.

But the good news is as Aggy says, they shall disappear after a few years and also their numbers decrease year on year with cultivation.

[Leapyear]

Cheers gobs

found several when digging plot, tough little bu***rs to crush :twisted:

     

[gobs]

I'm sure I posted it a couple of months ago or so, it was in some thread, possibly by Sparky but if not he asked this question and I can't find it. Anybody better at search, please?

It contains cornmeal.

[Leapyear]

Found it gobs......posted under Potatoe Woes, Jan 7th,2008

Cheers

[gobs]

Oh, well done.

Also found this

instead, which is very similar but gives distances for the home gardener, too.