Topic: potato harvest

[peanuts]

Yesterday we dug up our three rows of early/mid potatoes and are very pleased with the crop this year.  Often we've had too many  part-eaten by  the horrible mole crickets, but we seem to have mostly kept them at bay this year.  Mind you, we did catch three!
We've just one long row of Pink Fir Apple to harvest a little later. 

[Beersmith]

Interesting!

Where are you located?  I don't think mole crickets are native to the UK. I have never seen one.

That said, lots of pests get introduced by accident or careless behaviour when people import plants, bulbs, tubers and other plant material. In a new setting and lacking any natural predators they can be hugely damaging.  It is another negative effect of climate change that some pests and diseases that are geographically limited may spread into temperate regions. 

[plotstoeat]

never heard of mole crickets. Glad they don't play up here

[plotstoeat]

Just found one called a Northern mole cricket. Oh nuts!

[peanuts]

We're in south west France on the edge of the Pyrenees. We've learnt to live with mole crickets, but have to wage war on them all the time.  One year there were lots in some manure from the next-door farmer.  When we discovered some, we went through the manure with a tooth comb, and found over 80 adults and 50 nests- not funny at all! They are nasty things.

[saddad]

New one on me... unless it has another name, I get the odd cricket but usually from the long grass on unkempt plots.

[peanuts]

They're quite big! And fast!

[ancellsfarmer]

And just when you thought it safe to venture out, this lot have a 'good idea'
https://www.buglife.org.uk/news-and-events/news/action-for-mole-cricket

[peanuts]

Hmmmmm. Not sure about that at all! Having experienced the severe damage they can do in no time, over a whole potato crop, I certainly wouldn't want to encourage them in any way at all.  Particularly as there is no way now of getting rid of them, except by catching them, and hopefully finding any nexts.  They love manure heaps, and compost heaps.  We tried phenomones for a couple of years, expensive and no way of telling whether it was effective or not.  One sure way of catching them is to water eg a compost heap with water with a good dose of washing up liquid.  And up they come within a minute or so.
So good luck to anyone  trying to grow potatoes on the edge of the New Forest!

[pumkinlover]

Hmm I hope this gets thought about with temperature rises it seems daaft to bring in what appears to be another pest.

[galina]

I guess Colorado beetle is another one that will soon affect UK potato growing.  It is widespread on the Continent.

Do you get this pest, Peanuts?   

[plotstoeat]

I believe they can fly too. Not too far I hope.

[peanuts]

Harvested yesterday the last potatoes (much earlier here than years ago when we were in Herts) and my absolute favourite - Pink Fir Apple.  5 ½ kilos from 10 plants, the best crop we've had for ages.  Only three damaged potatoes from mole crickets, too.  Really satisfying!

[BarriedaleNick]

Nice - I love PFA and mine are going great guns and sprawling all over the place.  I'll see what return we get as I think I planted 10 too..

[Beersmith]

As ever, I can only comment on what has happened in my area. Hereabouts it has been an exceptional year for spuds. Everyone on my field is reporting good results. Heavy yields, little or no blight and curiously no major slug problems.

 Often spuds do well when conditions are not too dry. But those are the conditions that suit slugs as well. Anyway I hope you are experiencing similar good fortune regardless of your location.

Cheers