Allotments 4 All
Produce => Pests & Diseases => Topic started by: Gadget on March 14, 2011, 10:15:49
-
Hi all,
After a fab weekend digging, 1/3 of the allotment done, and half the blue whale of the compost heap has been takled it is the size of a shetland ponie now, and lovely lovely mulch dug in to a weed free plot... :)
I have a question, when I was digging I came across some potatoes left over from last year all of which are sprouting shoots, they had this funny looking yellow centipede thing coming out of them, I have thrown them all away but I was wondering what are they are? and before I plant up my tats and onions do I need to do anything to get rid of them or will I need to use this area for other produce?
ps. I would like to have a continous crop of potatoes can anyone recommend varieties to accomplish this..
Many thanks from a slightly stiff gadget. :)
-
Don't over do it...
the spuds were probably self sets in the compost...
the centipede is fine..
for spuds all year you need good storing ones...
A first early like Epicure/rocket... the first stores well
a second charlotte or red dukes of York... the second stores well
early mains like Anya..
mains like Picasso/Cara/Desiree according to your choice..
late mains store well if you avoid the blight..
can eat from store right through to June.. :)
-
Thanks Saddad that is very useful to know, a quick stupid question?
If I planted say Epicure next weekend, when should I sow the second and third?
:)
-
The long yellow centipedes are a species that lives in crevices in soil or among rocks, and eats whatever invertebrates it comes across.
-
Cool, maybe I pick up a few and bring into work there seems to be a influx of invertebrates at the moment :D
-
Someone once told us that anything that moves reasonably fast is ok. Its the slow critters that you have to watch. Don't know how true it is ;D
-
I had a print out from the computer from on here I think, a list of friends and nasties in the garden, it had centipedes down as the good guys and millipedes as the bad, I thought the brown ones were centipedes and yellow were millipedes, but I could not think why they would be bad for the garden, I've confussed myself now, I think I'll just go and bang my head against the wall. :-\ ??? :P
-
liking that theory on moving fast or slow ;D
-
Thanks Saddad that is very useful to know, a quick stupid question?
If I planted say Epicure next weekend, when should I sow the second and third?
:)
It's not a stupid question... the "earlies" descriptions are how long they take to form tubers... so you can put them all in together and they will produce tubers in order... I'd start putting them in at the start of April... it's quite cold at night here still... :)
-
Someone once told us that anything that moves reasonably fast is ok. Its the slow critters that you have to watch. Don't know how true it is ;D
Where does that leave worms though?
-
Millipedes are vegetarians, so they're sometimes supposed to be bad, but in fact they feed mainly on decaying matter, not your veg. Worms are dinner for anything that moves faster. In general, predators move fast, everything else relatively slowly. It's a generalisation though, and it ignores detritus feeders.
-
I would say your " centipede " is more likely to be wireworm, which you don`t particularly want in your spuds.
-
Wireworms are about a inch long and have stiffish golden yellow bodies centipedes have very flexible bodies up to about 2 inch long and very thin with many legs
-
Wireworms are about a inch long and have stiffish golden yellow bodies centipedes have very flexible bodies up to about 2 inch long and very thin with many legs
So? Coming out of a spud it is still more likely to be Wireworm. I suggest you read the thread.
-
So? Coming out of a spud it is still more likely to be Wireworm. I suggest you read the thread.
[/quote]
have read the thread and i am just saying wahat wireworm and centipedes look like.
-
I would say your " centipede " is more likely to be wireworm, which you don`t particularly want in your spuds.
There is a vast difference between a wireworm and a centipede about 94 legs for a start as a wire worm has six legs at the front and has a dark head and tail, they are much fatter, slower and a different color to the long slender bodies of the centipede
-
And the description we have been given is?
-
Just read the thread again and I am sure it says a funny yellow centipedes thing
-
aving just picked up my allotment book which resides as toilet reading (the only time I get to read a book with twins!). Listed as one of the pests for potatoes was cutworms which are said to be the larvae of various moths. Could this be it?
-
No, cutworms have white bodies and brown heads. These are wireworms.
-
Cutworms can be grey, brown, green or white when touched they curl up in a "c" shape, they mainly feed on young green stems severing the plant at ground level
-
Since it's described as a 'centipede thing', we can't assume it was a wireworm. They don't move like centipedes at all.
-
Pity we did not have a photo to identify the thing mm :)
-
Did it look like this? You will need to click on the pictures to make them bigger.
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,19862.0.html
-
Since it's described as a 'centipede thing', we can't assume it was a wireworm. They don't move like centipedes at all.
Neither can it be assumed to be a centipede. And as it came out of a potato it is more likely to be a wireworm. Duh.
-
Since it's described as a 'centipede thing', we can't assume it was a wireworm. They don't move like centipedes at all.
Neither can it be assumed to be a centipede. And as it came out of a potato it is more likely to be a wireworm. Duh.
Firstly I have not suggested that it is a centipede, I have only given a description of a centipede and wireworm, without seeing a picture of the actual thing no one can be certain what it is.
Secondly i would not reply to anyone and end the sentence with DUH, I think that is very rude to suggest that someone is thick.
thirdly I have seen many a centipede coming out of an hole in a potato that as been made by a slug so to suggest that it is a wireworm because it as come out of a potato is bad advice.
-
Hi all,
I can now confirm that it's not a centipede but a wireworm, so what is the low down on these wriggly pests, how much damage can they do and how do I get rid of them?
:)
-
I do not think that there is any insecticide you can use against wireworm...the best way to get rid is to keep raking the soil over and let the birds do the work of eating the larva and grubs.
-
Apologies WILL be accepted. ;D ;D ;D ;D So, DUh. :P
-
Why would anyone apologise?
-
Ditto Robert. :(
-
I do not think that there is any insecticide you can use against wireworm...the best way to get rid is to keep raking the soil over and let the birds do the work of eating the larva and grubs.
Am I right in saying that wireworms prefer grassy areas and that once the soil is cultivated they tend to be less of a problem? ;)
-
Yes Pumpkin they do prefer grassy areas but they are still a big problem in potatoes crops and need controlling.
-
I've just noticed that I was supposed to have written that at 6.06 am -when I was still in bed.
definatly going off thread here but the clock is still on GMT! ;D ;D ;D
-
The clock seems OK now... :)
No, sorry still an hour behind, I was reading the computer clock... bottom right of the screen... DOH! ;D
-
The larvae mainly live on grass, so if you've just broken in a lot of turf they're likely to be a major problem for the first few years. They diminish with time, but there are always a few around.
-
Ditto Robert. :(
Also ditto from me
-
The clock seems OK now... :)
No, sorry still an hour behind, I was reading the computer clock... bottom right of the screen... DOH! ;D
Too early yet!!! ;D
still off thread :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[sorry
-
Why would anyone apologise?
Because you thought you knew it all and, instead you had a lesson. Listen to your elders in future, people who know better. Same applies to you Kev.
-
Why would anyone apologise?
Because you thought you knew it all and, instead you had a lesson. Listen to your elders in future, people who know better. Same applies to you Kev.
And what makes you say that we thought we knew it all
-
All we said was that we didn't have sufficient information to be sure. You guessed, and you were lucky, that's all.
-
Lucky and rude. :P
-
I wish it had been a centipede. Then I could say this one will run and run......
-
Ok calm your knickers down all of you ;)
firstly it was to me that the original the doh comment was made to - I did not take offence, secondly it is not a competition of who's right, you're all right in your own way and all bring your own experiences to the forum which is very helpful :)
Lastly I think you should all apologise and make friends again, you never know what great gardening delima is around the corner.. ;D