What's got at my potatoes?

Can't identify that mould? Got a great tip for keeping slugs at bay? Suggestions for organic weed control? Post them here...

Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter

Granny
KG Regular
Posts: 354
Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:13 pm
Location: Just north of Cambridge

Something has pulled 2 potatoes right out of the ground by their shoots and started eating the potato itself. a) is this likely to have been a rat, and if not, what? b) any idea why this has happened when it's never happened before in about 6 years (and we have had rats around all that time)? c) is it worth replanting the potato that's had the least damage?
-------------
Granny
User avatar
peter
KG Regular
Posts: 5879
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2005 1:54 pm
Location: Near Stansted airport
Has thanked: 23 times
Been thanked: 81 times
Contact:

I would have expected a rat to have dug a tunnel and eaten at the end of it.
I suspect a badger?
Do not put off thanking people when they have helped you, as they may not be there to thank later.

I support http://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/
Granny
KG Regular
Posts: 354
Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:13 pm
Location: Just north of Cambridge

Thanks, Peter. I take your point about the rat idea. Don't think we've got badgers round here but you might be right.
--------------
Granny
fen not fen
KG Regular
Posts: 126
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2005 7:54 am
Location: north lincolnshire

Spuds I planted into a compost mulch were mostly pulled up and eaten by the wild ducks that take up residence every spring. I know 'cos I watched 'em doing it! Strangely the ones planted normally they left alone.
User avatar
Weed
KG Regular
Posts: 582
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:28 pm
Location: South Leicestershire

We had the same problem a couple of years ago...it was suggested that either the large extended on site family of badgers or the resident foxes were the culprits.
I am in my own little world, ...it's OK, ...they know me there!
Granny
KG Regular
Posts: 354
Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:13 pm
Location: Just north of Cambridge

No ducks round here! We do have the odd fox but the bite marks on the potato are too small. I'm now thinking it could have been a squirrel - we have lots. The very dry soil probably made it easy to pull out.
-------------------
Granny
User avatar
Tigger
KG Regular
Posts: 3212
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:00 pm
Location: Shropshire

Could be Squirrels. They've helped themselves to lots in our garden this year for the first time. :evil:
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic