…… Voles in my potatoes

thorr

thorr

Senior Member
It’s a back to eden type garden. Been lucky using DE and physically checking plants each day for pest. But the darn voles are starting to wreck havoc on our taters.

Our mountain cat does a great job but....
We have mouse traps set in the garden also.
Haven’t caught one yet..
It seems like the way to deal with voles is before you plant you add a castor bean extract to the soil..
If anyone has any ideas, they would be greatly appreciated...
Can harvest now but really don’t want to..
Thanks, Mark
 
R

raven

TB Fanatic
I use Bonide Molemax on my lawn for Moles, Voles, gophers, armadillos.
It is granular - use a hand held fertilizer spreader and dispense just before a rain.
 
thorr

thorr

Senior Member
Thanks guys,
We’re stepping up the hot pepper spray, gently adding coffee grounds.
This fall and next spring, good lord willing, with add the castor bean extract...
Two live traps, cause I have them and a dozen snap traps. Peanut butter and tater pieces for bait
Caught none yet.
Cat kills all kind of rodents...
He stares at their tunnels sometimes like he knows...
 
thorr

thorr

Senior Member
Another question is should I harvest earlier than later to maybe even out the damage?
Here’s a couple pictures.....
And thanks again......173DE5F5-F5BD-4F47-9DB0-12B8BB80B9AE.jpeg5B473ECB-9DE1-45FF-8DD4-B8E791E2027E.jpeg
 
R

raven

TB Fanatic
They are like mice.
If you find a bait that works, you could try:
JT Eaton 420CL Repeater Multiple Catch Mouse Trap with Clear Lid.
Its a live trap. Will catch multiple mice.
I am not a catch and release type. I drop it in a bucket of water to dispatch them and clean the trap.
$7
1657472591370.png
 
S

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
Yeah... I'd harvest now, because the rotten things are likely to just work their way down the row. Cure even the nibbled tubers out of the sun (throw a tarp or dark sheet over them) and even the damaged ones may dry down enough to store. It looks like the potatoes are pretty good sized...

Summerthyme
 
thorr

thorr

Senior Member
Dug up the biggest bed. Maybe twenty lbs good and twenty lbs chewed. Which I’m pressure canning tonight.
Thanks everyone again for the input.
Mark
 
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