I live in NW Minnesota and we are about 2 weeks from garden planting,but I have had a problem every year with POTATO BEETLES. Does anyone have a good natural method to control potato beetles? We like to use organic methods in our garden. I have used the hand picking method in the past, but its very time consuming and my kids are about to go on strike if ask them again this year.

-- Del Grinolds (dgrinolds@gvtel.com), May 02, 2001

Answers

chickens

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), May 02, 2001.

We use diatamecous earth early on and then an organically approved spray (BT). But the best control was when our neighbors had two ducks that ran loose. They pooped EVERYWHERE and ate potted plants, but they did clean out the potato beetles every time. There are days I wish they were back! I have gathered the beetles and fed them to my chickens. I am unable to let my chickens run free due to dogs, mine included.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), May 02, 2001.

I just read in Acres, USA that lady bugs are very effective on the egg stage of potatoe beetles. They recommended planting yarrow plants around the potatoe patch because lady bugs like yarrow plants and it helps them on their life cycle when there are no beetle eggs to eat. Good luck.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), May 03, 2001.

When we had guinea fowl we never had a potato bug. They didn't bother the crops either (like the chickens did strawberries and tomatoes!!!)

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), May 03, 2001.

I have hand-picked also for several years. The 2 things that I do to reduce picking were all recommended in various and asundry places and I do think they help. I interplant potatoes and beans. I hand-pick off the eggs instead of waiting for the slimy, poopy larvae to show up. (Can you imagine carrying your feces on your back for all of your childhood?! Makes me quite glad to be human!!) This year I'm starting a new garden bed on the other side of the house from my current veggie bed so I can plant my potatoes and tomatoes in one bed one year and the other the next. Picking eggs is the best solution I've found. Although it's time-consuming, I can usually do the major picking over the course of a week or so, then I don't see much more action after that (except for the ones I missed!)

-- Sheryl Adams (radams@sacoriver.net), May 05, 2001.

Sheryl - I didn't realize you were here! I have never had good luck with my free range chickens or guineas. BT is effective if you use the right strain, which I believe is San Diego. But my best defense is to wait to plant the potatoes, and here in Maine that means after 1 June. That way the beetles give up, thinking I am not planting any this year, and go looking for better places to eat, to wit: Sheryl's! GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), May 06, 2001.