[greenhead]

Hi,  My potato crop over the last 3 years have been attacked by all number of pests.  Earlies , main crop all suffer from boring insects rendering them hollow.  Are there any varieties out there that are resistant to these pests.  My soil is heavy clay - Blight is not a problem so far.

[Jamie Butterworth]

Could you try netting? If not could Picasso work, thats aresitant variaty i think

[plum crumble]

are you rotating your crops? You will increase the pest/disease problem by sowing in the same area each year. Netting won't help - it's not an airborne problem. Sounds like you might have a combination of slug and wireworm damage. Can you be more specific about the damage? Small holes, large, combination? Any rotting/bad smell? These clues will all indicate what the issues are.

[Aunt Sally]

Sounds like slugs to me.  Does the damage look like this:

SLUG DAMAGE



Wire Worm Damage



Hollow Heart

[greenhead]

Thanks Jamie and Plum Crumble,

The potato is hollow but I have seen large and small holes through the skin,  My main crop are hollow and rotten. I have seen Slugs inside munching away!!  I do rotate the beds.  Only one variety is successful that is Charlotte.

When planting I incorporate a potato granular feed, I also manure the beds 3 months before planting.

[greenhead]

Thanks Aunt Sally,

All three pictures apply - am I asking too much to be rid of these pests.

[Aunt Sally]

Slug pellets or slug pubs will deal with the slugs.

The wireworms will decrease over about 3 years.

Hollow heart is caused by prolonged wet weather after a dry spell so watering during dry weather should stop that.

[Aunt Sally]

So not so bad after all eh 

[greenhead]

Where do I put the slug pellets - in the planting hole or on the surface or both?

[plum crumble]

AHA! Aunt Sally to the rescue!  I put some pellets down when planting, and then a few on the surface. Don't need to go mad, a little goes a long way.

[greenhead]

Thanks all,  Just one more question - can anybody recommend varieties re earlies and main crop which are least susceptible to these pests.

[Snoop]

Fantastic photos, Aunt Sally. Maybe I'll try a few more potatoes after all this year and apply your advice.

[Ivor Backache]

Google the British Variety Potato Database
Point to indexes at the top and click on varieties.
Enjoy.

I tried to create a shortcut but

[mumofstig]

No need to Google  ...on the Forum home page under Grow Your Own there is a child board 'stickies'. Click on here and you will find a 'Useful Topics & sites'.
There are many helpful hints and links in there eg British Potato Variety Database, British Potato Council, Taterbase and even Diseases of Potatoes...it's all there for you

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=3301.0

have alook see.......

[DD.]

There's even a link to chitting them!

You never know when that may come in handy!