potato bugs

Charlie M · Jun 26, 2022

I haven't seen a single one this season in my garden. I did completely wipe them out last year with the spray I bought a few years ago from a seed catalog. It killed adults and young ones. I've learned from experience the fewer that survive one year makes control the next year easier.

Brian G. NY · Jun 26, 2022

(quoted from post at 19:10:05 06/26/22) I haven't seen a single one this season in my garden. I did completely wipe them out last year with the spray I bought a few years ago from a seed catalog. It killed adults and young ones. I've learned from experience the fewer that survive one year makes control the next year easier.

My neighbor has a small garden with a few potato plants in bloom.
I checked it a couple of days ago and didn't find a single potato bug. He has never planted potatoes anywhere near there before.
On the other hand, I remember planting potatoes years ago where they had never been planted before and they were loaded with those blasted little striped bugs before they came in bloom.
When I was a kid, my Dad used to have my brother and I go through the garden with a soup can containing a little kerosene and knock the bugs into the can with a little stick. I bet some others remember doing that as well.

Rusty2N · Jun 26, 2022

Dad would pay a dime for every 25 potatoes bugs caught in a jar. Neighbor would pay me a dime for every sagerat tail
to help cut the population in his alfalfa field. Still shoot them Damm squirrels. Just don't get paid for it.

Bruce from Can. · Jun 26, 2022

I would just patrol the potato patch, and crush any potato bugs I found between my thumb and forefinger.

valleview · Jun 26, 2022

Potato bugs are terrible, you are very lucky not to have them. Keep a close watch, they might come back. We went for over 10 years in our new isolated garden spot with nary a potato bug. They suddenly appeared and we picked them, crushed them, dusted them. We spent many hours every summer removing them. They came back the next year and repeat. Last year, i ordered a special variety that was supposed to have some resistance and they did ok. The bugs didn't damage them as bad as the others. This year, the bugs are back with a vengeance even with this variety. We will not plant potatoes again in this spot. Wondering how many years it will take before we dare plant them here again??

NY 986 · Jun 26, 2022

I've given up on potatoes and tomatoes. Even with today's prices it is cheaper to just buy as needed. If I were feeding a family of 12 it might be different. I don't miss the insects and diseases that went with them.

Traditional Farmer · Jun 26, 2022

Put a bunch of the bugs in a blender with some water,strain the mix and spray back on the potatoes it'll get rid of more bugs

potato bugs

Charlie M

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Brian G. NY

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Rusty2N

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Bruce from Can.

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valleview

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NY 986

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Traditional Farmer

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