[digby]

I have just spent the afternoon harvesting my main crop, got a good box worth, most really good quality, but as usual some have been lost to nasty little chucky pigs (earwig woodlouse things, never sure of the proper name but always called them chucky pigs), burrowing in them.  Does anyone know of anything I could do to prevent this next year.

Also, completely irrelevantly, had a beautiful persian cat join me while I was digging, really well groomed, excellent condition but the lotty is miles from residential civilization so no idea where he came from - hope he's alright. :?:

[Frog]

Hi Digby!!!
Congrats on the spuds! They taste fab when you grow them yourself.  
We have two more rows left to lift. Have no idea re chucky pigs! Am sure someone else will.  :?

Have seen puss cats crossing the fields from Sticky Lane before. Probably chasing mice - we have a family of field mice living on our plot! Am hoping he hasn't crossed the A38, as wouldn't like his chances getting back again.  :cry:  :shock:

P.S. How were the runner beans?

[digby]

Runner beans were gorgeous thank you, our first full meal of the year, have started to get some of our own now.

Hope to have some sweetcorn soon.

[Yorkie]

Are you sure it's earwigs?

There are underground slugs which cause damage to spud tubers - nematodes are expensive but a good way to kill them off next year.

[Aunt Sally]

Slugs will cause fat holes and wireworms will cause thin holes.

[love-my-plot]

I had a couple of holes among the first spuds I lifted. When I cut one open, the insect that ran out was like an earwig, vine weevil or a beetle -y thingy .. that sorta thing. Any ideas  :?:

[Aunt Sally]

I think the holes were probably madeby a slug and then found by the earwig.

[digby]

I think the holes were probably madeby a slug and then found by the earwig.

Ahh - so the chucky pig is innocent, death to all slugs!

[love-my-plot]

That sounds about right coz the hole was a lot bigger than
 the fleeing insect