Cutworm Solutions?

I'm afraid that one of my potato sprouts has been done in by a cutworm. What are the solutions to this? I don't "do" chemicals, so it needs to either be an organic treatment or something like a collar. Also, when do they come out and do their evil deeds?

When you turn your head...

I started planting my seedlings with half the solo cups still on so that it protrudes above the soil line. You could probably still slip several over your vines if you're careful. That should do the trick.

Check the soil immediately around the cut stem. You should be able to spot that bugger and do him in post haste and toot sweet!

Some type of collar/barrier is your best bet. It needs to go above the soil and down into the soil a couple of inches... You also want it as close to the stem as possible. The cutworm cannot cross the barrier. They normally work under cover of darkness - sneaky little buggers!

Here's the damage. Does it look like a cutworm or something else? If you look closely at the stem on the left, you'll see something's eaten about half of it, too.

Also, I seem to remember something about using straws??

I'm not sure it's cutworms you're dealing with there Steph... That stem looks big enough cutworms shouldn't be able to do much damage. It's the young tender thin stems they usually get...

I've heard the straw thing too. You can also use toothpicks, whatever... Place them in the soil around the stem a bit away from the stem. You want to make it so the cutworm cannot wrap around the stem...

Kelly, that's what I thought, too. The stems were too big for cutworms. Whatever it is, it's sure liking my plants! Grrrrrrrrrr!!

Not sure what bug might do that kind of damage. My guess is it looks like something chewed it or pecked it. You have a lot of birds hanging out? Even with all the feeders I keep away from the garden they love new seedlings, especially beans - lol. Last year had to replant a couple times before I caught on to them. There is enough food and bugs for them that they normally don't eat my seeds, but those little green seedlings are just too much temptation for them I guess.

Yes, we do have a lot of birds hanging around. I think they've been eating on my pea plants, too.

Oh yeah - I forgot about how much they like peas...

If your taters are tall enough maybe you can hill them a little with your leaves? That might discourage the nibblers. Or you could try hanging CDs. The only problem is they catch onto that rather quickly, but if you move the location of the CDs every day or two it seems a little more effective.

They're not quite 8", is it still okay to hill them? I can do that tonight after it cools off. It's the 2nd 80º day of the year and I'm already complaining it's too hot! LOL Not sure how I'd hang CDs since there's nothing around to hang them from. I do have some tulle and bird netting I could put over them, though.

What did the Ronniger's catalog say - lol?

In approximately two weeks, depending on soil temperature,
green leaves will emerge. When the plants have grown to about
8" high, gently hill with soil brought up from both sides of the
plant using a dull hoe. Bring the soil up about 3” inches leaving
4” - 6” of the plant exposed. Hilling cools the soil and creates
space for tuber development. All tubers will form at the same
depth of the seed piece and higher. Another hilling of 1 to 2” is
beneficial 2 - 3 weeks later. Keep the blade of your hoe well
away from the plants so you do not damage the roots. If you see
potatoes poking out of the hills, add more soil to cover them.

So looks like you can hill them now with about 3" or so of soil/leaves.

The tulle and netting will work if you have no way to hang CDs. It hit 90° yesterday and supposed to only be 80° today. Windy, cooler and another chance of rain tomorrow. Geez - I've never seen so much rain here in my life! Good for the plants but we'll have one heck of a wildfire season when all these weeds shrivel up and die!

I did read the catalog (LOL) which is how I knew the 8" measurement. I now have the catalog at my computer folded back to the page discussing hilling. I've even had my DH read it.

I'll hill tonight, then with the leaves. Of course, that means I'll have to rake some of them up. Thankfully, the high winds have helped the dead leaves fall from the trees. Wish it would leave the oak pollen alone, but it spreads, too. Can't stand that pollen crud. We're due some rain on Friday, I think. I'm just praying for no hail.

Here are my Purple Vikings and Kennebecs. Found a new sprout in that container today. Whoop!

They look very happy! We're supposed to have high winds and more rain tomorrow. Pretty windy already...