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Hi all. We dont put potato peelings on the compost heap, because I have read somewhere that it 
can introduce wire worm into the garden. With the popularity of sweet potato's, can the peelings from these be put on the compost?

Also, what damage do wire worms do in the garden? Ray.

I'd be surprised if potato peelings really did encourage wireworm.  Sweet potatoes aren't related to potatoes so I wouldn't be concerned.  I'm not aware of wireworm being a pest for anything other than potatoes.  They're more troublesome when you're cultivating an area that was covered in grass because the adult beetle likes to lay eggs in grass.  That said, wireworm can be a troublesome pest for farmers because they're difficult to control.

I don't put them in, but only because they start sprouting again, others say the bins will be too hot for them, but my daleks have the Sun  8) most of the day and theres not many places in the country that get more hours Sun ,  8) but they still keep sprouting.   ???  So I put mine out for the council collection, as Unwashed says about the wireworm.    ;D ;D ;D

Robins love wireworms.  They hop around if I am digging just waiting for them to turn up.

I think this stems from introducing the wire worm to the compost due to the worm being in the potato that has been composted.

Quote from: cornykev on September 12, 2009, 12:24:48
I don't put them in, but only because they start sprouting again, others say the bins will be too hot for them, but my daleks have the Sun  8) most of the day and theres not many places in the country that get more hours Sun ,  8) but they still keep sprouting.   ???  So I put mine out for the council collection, as Unwashed says about the wireworm.    ;D ;D ;D

I didnt know Darleks read The Sun. If it takes them most of the day they must be doing more than just looking at the pictures.  P'haps its all that naked metal in the motoring section that attracts them.

Wireworms are cranefly larvae, and they look for turf to lay eggs in as the larvae mainly eat grass roots. When we get rid of the grass they turn to our spuds. Potato peelings won't attract them at all.

I think its 'leatherjackets' which are the larvae of craneflies (not wireworms). I put my potatoes peelings into my wormery - the worms love them!

Hi Robert, like lavenderlux, I think you meant click beetles, not craneflies.

You are, of course, correct. Teach me to post with an attack of migraine!