seb47 Posted January 29, 2007 Share Posted January 29, 2007 The label on my seed potatoes bought at Gamme Vert says that interplanting with 'le Lin' (Flax /Linseed?) can deter colarado beetles. Anyone heard of this or tried it? Not sure where I could buy it though - possibly Terre du Sud?Sue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 I've never tried it Sue though I can't see there would be any harm and it would look pretty. There are some decorative flaxes that can be bought from garden centres and online seed merchants but I guess this has to be Linum usitatissimum ? You can probably buy the seeds from an alternative therapy/herbal type shop as the seeds are used in a tisane as a laxative. Unless you have acres of tatties it's quite easy to do a check every few days to make sure there are no Colorado beetle on the leaves and just squash them. They're very easy to spot and don't seem to try to hide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogo Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 I have been told that colorado beetles wont go near marigolds.Iam giving up planting potatoes because of this problem,but I am now worried about my tomatoes and aubergines,so will be giving anything a try this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh4 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Been there and done it.It helps but only helps - we had less beetles than our neighbour and never had to spray (which our neighbour did have to do), but we still got them. 3 times a day patrol of the plants to pick off and kill the beetles and grubs. Seeme to be pretty effective taken together with the flax. Personally for a few rows of spuds I would never bother buying the flax seed - but ours came free with the seed potatoes. So if we get free ones again this year I will certainly be sowing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seb47 Posted January 31, 2007 Author Share Posted January 31, 2007 Thanks all. Cassis - will try to find the seeds as they may be attractive as you say. In the meantime - please can we have some warm sunny weather as opposed to freezing cold grey ,so we can actually get out in the garden?Cheers, Sue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeanneclaire Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 I have read that in some parts of America where they have big problems with Colarado Beetle they use Aubergine plants as a sacraficial crop, to save the potatoes.jeanne claire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Don't you find it slightly amusing that finding Colorado Beetles here demands no more than 'dealing' with them, whereas if you find one on your potatoes in the UK they are notifiable to Ministry of Ag. They will then descend on your plot en mass and 'agent orange' your plot to ensure that nothing will grow there for fifty million years.......................[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh4 Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 Actually BB. no I don't.This species of beetle is extremely destructive in Europe where it has few natural predators. If you do a scan you will find that the CIA has actually considered using them to defoliate areas as a weapon of war. Accidentally introduced to Europe in the early 1900's, by the time there were effective control means, their population was too big and too widely dispersed to be able to effect the destruction. The UK is in a different situation by virtue of being an island and it make very good sense to keep them out and take - what you see as draconian - measures to ensure that any that do get into the country are destroyed before they can disperse. Personally if it comes down to pest control by a handful of highly trained and specialised teams, properly protected and using full strength poisons, versus millions of gardeners - some illiterate, many who won't read the instructions, 99% of which won't use the correct protective equipment, nor apply the less strong but still toxic materials under the correct conditions, well I know which group I would be recommending.But of course not using chemicals at all is much better. As for Aubergines as a sacrificial crop - well they certainly go for them too. I guess a ring of Aubergines 1m wide around the whole of you spud patch might hold the blighters back for....................................... .................................................. maybe 48 hours max.Once they take hold, they will convert a healthy looking potato field to brown stalk in about 3-4 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 Andy, lighten up, it was the difference between the two countries in terms of action I was referring to, no more than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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