Worms Eating Potatoes, Beets and Carrots

Some type of worm or grub is eating my potatoes, beets and carrots. I plant potatoes in two different gardens and they both are affected.

Wireworms may be the culprit. These yellow to reddish-brown worm-like larvae are the immature stage, of the click beetle. Their length ranges from ¹/₄ to 1 ¹/₂ inches with a width of ¹/₈th inch. The larvae feed on seeds, seedlings, roots of grasses, some flowers and vegetables. Wireworm populations vary from season to season so they are usually not a permanent problem in the landscape. Start by improving the soil drainage. Work several inches of organic matter into the top 8 inches of soil. Rotate your plantings. Grow legumes or other less susceptible crops in areas where wireworms have been a problem. If this doesn't work you may want to leave this garden unplanted next summer. Cultivate to keep the garden free of weeds and to expose and kill many of the wireworms.

Related

Audio

Protecting Your Landscape from Wildlife Damage

Audio

Managing Apple Pests

Article

Affordable Food Gardening

Audio

Managing Ticks in the Garden and Landscape

• « Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• ...
• 133
• 134
• Next »