[AT] potato planting

[Ron Cook]

Ralph,
      The grubs eat into the tubers.  In some years, late in the season 
they can do considerable damage.  I think it hurts the storability of 
the potato.  Not a big problem the last couple years because of my 
reduced yields.  Nothing left for long term storage.
     I suppose the grubs come out of my lawn area toward the end of the 
growing season and go to the garden area where things have been kept 
watered.  I do not water the lawn.  That just causes increased labor and 
expense.  I have not had a Colorado problem, however, I do spray 
insecticide along with my fungicide, usually for leafhoppers. This year 
I am thinking of a soil insecticide to work on the grub problem.  
Especially if I get some new ground plowed up that was previously in grass.

Ron Cook
Salix, IA
On 4/17/2013 3:47 PM, Ralph Goff wrote:
> On 4/17/2013 12:49 PM, Ron Cook wrote:
>> Ralph,
>>        I roto till between the rows, too.  For weed control and also to
>> get some loose soil for hilling.  My concern about the mulch idea is for
>> a good home for insects that I don't want.  Especially with using straw.
>>      I have a problem with grubs getting to the tubers
> Grubs in potatos? That is a new one to me. All I have to deal with here
> is the infamous Colorado potato beetle. And would you believe I pick
> them all by hand? I used to dust them with some type insecticide but
> figured if I could avoid a little exposure to possibly toxic chemicals
> that might be a good thing. Seems to be working well as long as I can do
> a quick scan of every row most mornings and pick any I have missed.
>
> Ralph in Sask.
>>
>