I planted five long rows of new potatoes (three different types) starting from 29 March. They were doing quite well then of course the drought turned up. I saw one potato flower the other week but that was it. However, I read somewhere that even if they don't flower, just to wait until they start dying down and I might still get a decent harvest (I did have one black leg incident, which I reported here, asking for advice, but after it was removed there was no repeat).
Anyhow, this evening was delightfully surprised to see quite a few ladybird on one plant. I took a picture to show the wife but when I looked closer my suspicions were aroused. The dreaded Colarado beetle (see the picture). I looked on the Internet and saw the advice was to pick them off by hand and drop them in a bucket of soapy water. I did this. I also discovered two or three stripey looking beetles (which I initially thought were slugs) and they went in the bucket as wel. On a few, but not many of the affected plants (about five) there were tiny clusters of bright cells, which I squashed (I suppose they are the larvae).
As the plants have been in the ground nearly 10 weeks, I guess, is there any chance of being able to have a reasonable harvest? The insects destroy the leaves, not the potatoes, don't they.
Anton
