Small round holes in my stored potatoes- who's the culprit?

missmoneypenny · « **on:** December 19, 2012, 08:07 »

My stroed potaotes are showing up little round holes that lead to internal tunnels then a brown mush inside. It doesn't ruin the whole potato but means you end up having to throw away as much as half. What's causing this? I store them in a shed in a jute bag.

JayG · « **Reply #1 on:** December 19, 2012, 09:12 »

Sounds like wireworm damage, although the damage should have already been visible before storage.

If you are sure they were undamaged at harvest time it could be the little black keel slugs which may have been lifted with the potatoes, although that doesn't seem that likely especially if the tubers were dried before storing. You will usually find one of the little blighters curled up inside its little "cave" if you look carefully.

Any internal damage from any cause will lead to rotting of the whole potato which will then spread to all the others - check them all over carefully and only keep the sound ones.

strangerachael · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2012, 09:28 »

Do they look like this? About half of mine had these holes, which I decided were wireworm. Apparently they are very common in areas which were recently turfed, or where manure has been applied. Easily missed at harvest, when the holes can easily be covered with soil. Like you say, you can still eat the potatoes but it's very fiddly to prepare them for cooking

missmoneypenny · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2012, 11:00 »

Yes Rachel that's exactly what they look like. Bummer!

sunshineband · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2012, 20:11 »

When you are digging next season, check out those small browny orange grubs about an inch/inch and half long, with thin hard shiny bodies and six small (very small) front legs.

Taken them out of the ground and they will not make holes in things you want to eat. This is the only way to deal with them really.

We had hundreds when we took over our plot, but now see very few.

Separate out any damaged potatoes and use these first. Next season should be better

missmoneypenny · « **Reply #5 on:** December 20, 2012, 22:52 »

Thanks for your good advice.

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Small round holes in my stored potatoes- who's the culprit?

missmoneypenny

Small round holes in my stored potatoes- who's the culprit?

JayG

Re: Small round holes in my stored potatoes- who's the culprit?

strangerachael

Re: Small round holes in my stored potatoes- who's the culprit?

missmoneypenny

Re: Small round holes in my stored potatoes- who's the culprit?

sunshineband

Re: Small round holes in my stored potatoes- who's the culprit?

missmoneypenny

Re: Small round holes in my stored potatoes- who's the culprit?

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