Topic: Wood ash to stop wireworm?

[PJW_Letchworth]

I remember hearing somewhere (Gardeners World I think) that using a liberal scattering of wood ash would help to stop wireworm attacking potatoes.  I had my main crop of Cara badly damaged last year.

I've used ash from a wood burning stove to put over the soil where I've planted my spuds.  I think the ash is mainly from oak, but I guess that doesn't make a difference.

Do you think this would work?  Has anyone else heard or tried this method?

[GrannieAnnie]

Wood ash can change the pH to very basic. Don't potatoes prefer an acidic soil?

[PurpleHeather]

My thinking is, if you use anything that helps reduce a particular pest then it is meant to be used if you do not have an existing problem. To help with prevention.

Are you sure it is wire worm and not those baby slugs?

 

[Robert_Brenchley]

Wireworm diminishes slowly over a few years; I'm guessing that the area was grass not so long ago? I had the same problem, but it really is just patience.

[PJW_Letchworth]

The plot was covered in grass before I took ownership of it.  In fact, it had been left for over 10 years.  How many years should I expect to pass before I stop seeing damage to the spuds?  This is my fifth year of cultivating the plot.  No other root crops are damaged.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Are you getting all the grass out? Mine were diminishing noticeably by that point.

[PJW_Letchworth]

Most of it is out but there is always that little bit that gets missed!

The second photo shows it at its worst.  All this is now out including the majority of the roots.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/phillworboys/photographs/index.html

[MrsKP]

Dr Hessayon suggested pirimiphos-methyl but I nearly fell off my perch when I googled it.

I read somewhere else that planting spuds after mustard could help.  As I seem to remember planting a mustard bed last autumn, that's where I've planted the spuds this year.

Time will tell I guess.

[Robert_Brenchley]

If my experience is anything to go by, the grassy bit at the end is likely to be riddled with wireworm unless it's grown back fairly recently. Keep going till you get rid of it, and keep it suppressed. Mine didn't fade away until I really was on top of the grasses.

[Paulines7]

I heard that wood ash from bonfires is bad for potatoes as it encourages scab.  This was confirmed two years ago when I planted potatoes where my husband had previously had a fire.

[Deb P]

This might be worth a try?.......


http://www.alanromans.com/p-1646-foil-sisbranstons.aspx


Sorry, that's eelworm isn't it! Duh! I wonder if there is a wireworm equivalent....

Doesn't look like it, but this site has a lot of info. and suggestd 6 years to clear an infested area...

http://www.ontariocorn.org/magazine/Issues/pre%20Nov%202005/ocpmag/magh42003pg12.html

[PJW_Letchworth]

Six years I can live with providing the leave of their own accord.  I think I will be hitting the slimey little slugs with nematodes this year.  Is there anything like this that would work for the wireworm?

[Robert_Brenchley]

They grow up and fly away to lay their eggs somewhere they can find grass. So get rid of the grass, and the wireworm will follow, eventually.

[Riffster]

We had bad wireworm attacks on pots last year for the same reason.  It was grass beforehand,  and I left my spuds in far tooo long.

I googled this when the thread started. Re: nematodes for wireworms.

see   http://www.greengardener.co.uk/extras.htm

quoted:

 WIREWORM - Wireworms are a soil based pest that attack potatoes, carrots and other root crops particularly in the late summer and autumn. Controlling this pest is difficult as it has a life cycle that can last over 2 years*. We do know that the nematode - Heterorhabditis megadis will attack wireworms. It is applied through a watering can or hose end feeder in May - August or as soon as the soil temp is 12c and wireworms are present, with plenty of water applied afterwards so the nematodes can swim in the soil water to find the wireworms. As with all nematodes, only order when you are ready to apply as they do not keep.

* Due to the extended lifecycle, you may need to apply for a number of years to clear the pest.