[suesowsseed]

Oh No  My poor spuds are badly affected by Keeled slugs!  At first I thought it was Potato eelworm but there were no cysts on the roots when I dug them up today, so after googling the problem I think it's slug damage 

They are Maris Pipers.  I cut down the haulms a few days ago because I thought they might have the beginnings of blight.  Today I dug some up to check the tubers and most are riddled with holes and tunnelling inside.

I have kept the those that are only slightly affected to use over the next week or so, but I am so disappointed that I am not going to be able to store them for future use.

I planted two 16ft rows, think there were about 20 plants in total.  Any advice greatly received. Pics below.

[mumofstig]

Many people use some slug pellets when planting and earthing up potatoes, and you can choose slug resistant potatoes

http://www.jbaseedpotatoes.co.uk/slug-resistant-seed-potatoes

Not slug proof, but definitely less likely to get munched

[JayG]

Potato eelworm do not leave visible tracks where they enter the roots and tubers (they're microscopic creatures.)

I'm not sure whether your grisly evidence definitely points to slugs rather than wireworms, and I realise it's not much consolation anyway to suggest it could be wireworm rather than slug damage, other than that if the soil was recently under grass it was quite likely to be infested with them, but should improve under cultivation over the next few years (plus they can be "trapped" using, yes, potatoes as bait.)

[gobs]

Your slug resistant varieties are your best bet, in my view.

Pots like the bottom picture, you can also store. They shall develop hardened skin around the slug bite, near the outer surface of the potato or even inside, like scab to injury. This might well be differing by variety again and I'm sorry, I have never grown Maris Piper.

All sorts can move in, after the keelers did the damage. This is a major problem with storing, however, pots do freeze well, too. Clean and part prepare and chuck into freezer, what's usable.

A very wet summer, still I get just about no slug damage in my Sharpos, Charlotte, Nicola. 5 on 16 plants like are spoiled and no slug pellets either.

[timdunn]

Happened to me the first year I started growing spuds and my Maris Piper were very badly effected. Now mainly grow Kestrel and Charlotte and scatter pellets periodically during growing season. Very little slug damage now!

[devonbarmygardener]

Potato eelworm do not leave visible tracks where they enter the roots and tubers (they're microscopic creatures.)

I'm not sure whether your grisly evidence definitely points to slugs rather than wireworms, and I realise it's not much consolation anyway to suggest it could be wireworm rather than slug damage, other than that if the soil was recently under grass it was quite likely to be infested with them, but should improve under cultivation over the next few years (plus they can be "trapped" using, yes, potatoes as bait.)

It's the same damage I had with Vales Sovereigns this year - and yes it's slugs, as some of the potatoes I started to chop up actually had baby slugs in them still   majorly gross when you chop one in half in the sink!

Vales Sovereign have been better than some varieties I have previously grown for this sort of damage - I have managed to store quite a few spuds, with a few to use for mash sooner rather than later kept separately, but it is disappointing.

Growing in bags of compost/manure mix may be more expensive and may not give quite so big a crop, but I don't get slug damage with them

[al78]

I've had the same problem with my spuds. I was originally planning to leave them in the ground and dig up a few at a time for eating but after finding more and more holes I decided to lift the lot. Probably half to two-thirds had visible damage but are still usable. I'll have to try the slug resistant varieties next year and lift them earlier.

[Yorkie]

It's the same damage I had with Vales Sovereigns this year - and yes it's slugs, as some of the potatoes I started to chop up actually had baby slugs in them still   majorly gross when you chop one in half in the sink!

Vales Sovereign have been better than some varieties I have previously grown for this sort of damage - I have managed to store quite a few spuds, with a few to use for mash sooner rather than later kept separately, but it is disappointing.

At least it won't be crawling back up the sink ... 

[devonbarmygardener]

It's the same damage I had with Vales Sovereigns this year - and yes it's slugs, as some of the potatoes I started to chop up actually had baby slugs in them still   majorly gross when you chop one in half in the sink!

Vales Sovereign have been better than some varieties I have previously grown for this sort of damage - I have managed to store quite a few spuds, with a few to use for mash sooner rather than later kept separately, but it is disappointing.

At least it won't be crawling back up the sink ... 

This is very true
However the newest spud i've grown this year are 'Robinta' and they are perfectly un-slug damaged except for 1 potato!
If they taste good and cook well - they will be my maincrop forever! They're really pink and they get to a good baking size

[Sparkyrog]

It's the same damage I had with Vales Sovereigns this year - and yes it's slugs, as some of the potatoes I started to chop up actually had baby slugs in them still   majorly gross when you chop one in half in the sink!

Vales Sovereign have been better than some varieties I have previously grown for this sort of damage - I have managed to store quite a few spuds, with a few to use for mash sooner rather than later kept separately, but it is disappointing.

At least it won't be crawling back up the sink ... 

This is very true
However the newest spud i've grown this year are 'Robinta' and they are perfectly un-slug damaged except for 1 potato!
If they taste good and cook well - they will be my maincrop forever! They're really pink and they get to a good baking size

I intend to nematode next year 

[devonbarmygardener]

I intend to nematode next year 

I did that in 2009.

Made no difference - except my plot neighbour John had very few slugs!
I'm sure they all ran/crawled/slunk away

[Chrysalis]

My sympathies!   My Maris Piper's have been terrible - lots of slug/worm damage and scab.  But the Sarpo mira in the next row were loads better.  Less damage all round.  Just wish I'd planted them in the front of the patch so they could have been bigger.... won't do MP again next year.

[Willow_Warren]

My maris piper ones are similarly damaged - depressing afterall the hard work isn't it...

My Desiree potatoes however (planted in the row next to the Maris Pipers) were much less affected.

The ones in bags are also less affected.  Despite the cost, bags might be the way to go for next year (not just due to slugs mine you!)

Hannah