VINE WEEVIL

[Barbara]

Andy, you could wash the tubers, and I cook any compost that's had them in, by putting it in an old roasting tin, and heating it up.

[Chuckles]

I normally put infested compo into a bucket or tub of water and just let them drowned, after a week it gets thrown on the garden. I'd give the tubers a good look over Andy and maybe a wash under the tap to make sure there are non lurking in any nooks and crannies.

As for plants that are still in pots especially large ones, if I see VW or signs of them I excavate and squidge the grubs and I use Provado. Then just keep and eye on what ever is growing in the pot. I tend to find it's the pots where I've plant primroses around a shrub that get them.

[MamIDdau]

I always just used provado but not used it for ages cos I've not really got much in pots that needs it.

[andy]

Thanks guys.....would you know if i could dip the tubers in this provado stuff before storing them ?

Andy

[Chuckles]

Nov 18, 2008 6:18:51 GMT andy said:

Thanks guys.....would you know if i could dip the tubers in this provado stuff before storing them ?

Andy

Mmmm not really sure on that one Andy. I reckon you would see if they had penetrated into the tubers though.

Re potted some Auricula today because the compo looked sodden with water, found a few VW grubs in there I gave the compo to the chickens instead of putting it in a bucket of water, they soon sorted them out ;D

It's really worth going round any potted plants this time of year and just giving them a little tug to check the roots are ok.

[Ruthie]

You can see if there are any grubs present. Have a good look and zap any remaining ones (our Koi rather like them) then you won't need to use chemicals until, perhaps, next year.

[Biggles]

Adult Vine Weevil--lay their eggs on the surface of the soil (near the plant)



Grub--It is these that do the damage--

I always use Pravado Vine Weevil Killer in all my containers in the Spring-- Prevention is better than cure--

[madonplants]

If you brought them into the warm Andy, couldn't you use the nematodes, as the soil temp would be over the 5 degrees they need to work? When we moved here two and a half years ago, the previous owner had left lots of pots with fuschias in them. They were riddled, so as it was the spring, I used the nematodes and checked sometime later and all were dead. If you replace the compost, put the grubs into a live food feeder and the birds would love them.

[andy]

The problem i have is that my begonia tubers are huge and they're not exactly flat and even. Some of the grubs have got deep into the tubers and they're pretty hard to get out.

I have removed most of the soil around the tubers but a small amount still remains that is attached to small roots. If i store the tubers in a cold, frost free place, the grubs will stay on the tubers happily munching away and if i bring them in to the conservatory (min 10 C), they will still carry on eating them AND i stand a chance of them developing into beetles....which can do just as much damage.

Of course i could just throw the bloody lot away and and buy new tubers in spring !!!!

[Chuckles]

Mmmm only other thing I can suggest Andy is to soak them for a few days in some buckets of water. The nematodes may be worth a try but I'm not sure you would get them this time of year and then its more cost, unless you have some contact through work. I'd try the soaking in a bucket and see how you go, nothing lost that way if you do end up chucking them.

Don't you just hate Vine Weevils

[madonplants]

Nov 19, 2008 6:44:04 GMT andy said:

The problem i have is that my begonia tubers are huge and they're not exactly flat and even. Some of the grubs have got deep into the tubers and they're pretty hard to get out.

I have removed most of the soil around the tubers but a small amount still remains that is attached to small roots. If i store the tubers in a cold, frost free place, the grubs will stay on the tubers happily munching away and if i bring them in to the conservatory (min 10 C), they will still carry on eating them AND i stand a chance of them developing into beetles....which can do just as much damage.

Of course i could just throw the bloody lot away and and buy new tubers in spring !!!!

Are they special/uncommon begonias, Andy? Been Googling and a few sites say, soak in insecticide, so maybe that is your best bet, but you didn't hear it from me, OK? I suppose in a 'controlled environment', the nasty stuff wouldn't affect the other wildlife outside, would it, which is why I hate chemicals in the garden?

[snowowl]

Just a reminder to anyone who like me forgot to drench their pots in Pravado.
I did it in spring to all my pots but should have retreated over the summer because i have lost all my Fushias.
I wonderd why they were flagging then had a root round and the pots were full of VW grubs.
Nearly every pot has been infected
I have treated now before i plant up winter pansies but i still feel i should tip all the compost out and check.
I never thought to retreat and now have paid the price i am not having much luck this year what with Busy Lizzi mildew now Vine
weavals.

[Tig]

How awful Snowy! I have a couple of pots of lilies that look as if they may be infested. Provado can last for up to six months, but we have had so much rain this 'summer' it probably washed through the compost

x Tig

[Ladygardener]

That's terrible SnowOwl, like lilly beetles I hate them with a passion, they're so destructive. I will put Provado on my list of things to get.

[Barbara]

Boil their heads

[Chuckles]

Noticed on TOTD the dreaded weevils had been mentioned. Some great tips on this thread for anyone who is cursed with them

[Chuckles]

Found some of the dreaded white grubs today in a couple of pots. What ever had been growing in them was no more Contents were promptly emptied into the chicken run where the girls had a right good feed ;D They save me a fortune on Provado

[Barbara]

I found some when I was digging the front garden on Tuesday , can you send your chickens for a flying visit please Chuckles . ;D

[Chuckles]

Girls had another grub feeding frenzie today Barbara ;D I thought my Candelabra Primroses in pots were looking a bit sad Thankfully I noticed in time.

Anyone else found any ? or have you all been good and treated your pots

[Jasmine]

I'm probably tempting fate but we've only had wine veevil once - I picked them out on the drive and then red ants picked them up and carted them off.

[Barbara]

I have some lovely double primroses that Ruth sent me, I bought a couple of nice looking pots and thought I would put them into them today, thank goodness I did, there were 9 grubs in the 2 pots, deaded now before they did any damage.

[snowowl]

I havent treated my pots again my primulas look good so i hope they have not got any grubs i think i will go and do a cheack around now.
I hate VW.

[Barbara]

I read an article this week that said earwigs eat VW grubs.

[Rosefriend]

Now that would be marvellous, if it is right...I seem to house most of the earwig population in my garden each year!!

RF

[Ladygardener]

That does sound good, I had a lot of earwigs around my Dahlia last year but the vw has left my Heuchera alone and they say they really like to eat them.

[Tig]

Not heard about that Barbara, not sure that the ones living in my garden do much burrowing Plenty of earwigs, and plenty of ruddy vine weevils

x Tig

[Chuckles]

I've read that the common black garden beetles eat the grubs and also centipedes. I must go on a tugging session of the plants I have in pots to see if I've got visitors.

[Barbara]

Yes Chucks ground beetles eat 'em as well.

[Chuckles]

Had a bit of a tidy around the GH area yesterday and found some pots of primroses that had vine weevil grubs in them

[Ladygardener]

They are a real pest are'nt they. I had a good look through the 30 or so overwintered pots yesterday and found 1, it does make me wonder where the ones I've missed are.