Don’t fall at last hurdle with slug-holed potatoes

Higher potential market values for this season’s crops are incentivising growers to keep potato tubers in tip top condition in the weeks and days prior to harvest. But with showery summer weather hampering progress and encouraging slug activity, a zero harvest interval molluscicide is a key advantage.

Scottish based CSC Crop Protection agronomist, Andrew Sprunt explains tubers are currently at their most appealing to slugs. "Immature tubers just aren’t as attractive. But as they reach maturity during September and October potato crops make for a particularly succulent feast and give rise to what is potentially the most significant level of crop damage." Yet with harvest interval restrictions for many slug pellet products limiting flexibility, he is making good use of Sluxx’s (3% ferric phosphate) zero harvest interval.

Some of Andrew’s customers lift early green top – "In these situations harvest intervals are key," he says. "Harvesting schedules in green top crops are often an unknown and so a zero harvest interval pellet offers real flexibility – especially with most metaldehyde and methiocarb products having a 21 or 18 day harvest intervals respectively," he advises.

Although slug pressure has been low so far, Andrew notes that signs of slug damage are now appearing. "Conditions are ideal for slug activity – not just in Scotland but down south too. We’re starting to see the signs that they’re active and damage is visible, especially in varieties such as Maris Piper which are a particular mollusc favourite," he explains.

Under recent conditions of increased susceptibility, and in the wake of the recent changes to metaldehyde applications which sees a restriction period in place from 1 August until 31 December Andrew is finding Sluxx to be very useful at this timing. "It has a real role to play," he says.

"We’re applying Sluxx now to growing crops and also to those being burnt down," he says. "Even crops that are burnt down are still at risk of slug damage before lifting, so are receiving pellet applications to protect against slug damaged, holed potatoes," he advises.

Despite the appeal of the potato crop, because slugs are opportunistic feeders they will investigate a new food source if they come across a pellet on the soil surface late into the season.

Growers need to be vigilant with slug control strategies especially where conditions turn against us this autumn. "Growers are recognising the worthwhile investment of a strong slug control strategy after burn down – even if it’s just in preserving potential crop value, by taking advantage of a zero harvest interval," notes Andrew.