Growing Potatoes - gnats?

funguST · 1 Jun 2022 at 15:15

Hi,

This is the first year i've had a garden (been flat bound for many years). I'm having a go at growing potatoes in bags, i've got a little veg patch going with other bits just bags for the potatoes. Things have been going well, been topping up with soil as and when the sprouts appear but i tried different peat free soil (as the usual one i bought wasnt in stock). The spoil really does smell and i've noticed my spud planters now appear to have gnats.

Anything i can do? Will they destroy my crop? Was thinking of trying to get rid of the top 5-6 inches of soil and add different soil. Any ideas? I'm assuming they are gnats, tiny flies crawling/flying around the soil.

Semple · 1 Jun 2022 at 16:04

Is there adequate drainage in the bags? If not it's quite possible that they're starting to rot. How damp is the soil?

funguST · 1 Jun 2022 at 16:09

They are in those fabric bags, plenty of drainage. Everything looks healthy. These flies have come with the latest batch of soil i've topped up with. Have been fine with the previous stuff i've used. Deffo wont be using westlands new horizon again.

200sols · 1 Jun 2022 at 17:26

Not much eats potatoes ime. Pretty bombproof until the blight hits.

Tony Edwards · 1 Jun 2022 at 17:30

You need some spiders and then some birds.

Its quite interesting with your forum name.

How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats Effectively (Complete Guide)

Fungus gnats are small, fruit fly-sized insects that mainly harm indoor houseplants. Here are all the ways to control and get rid of fungus gnats effectively.

www.planetnatural.com

Thats house plants but..

arknor · 1 Jun 2022 at 17:36

put sand on top and below.
Saw a farmer planting a huge field of potatoes a couple of weeks back, wonder how many get stolen.

Haze · 1 Jun 2022 at 17:37

I've got a garden this year, for the 1st time ever, and am growing then in tubs, have straw over the top of mine, so would not notice them anyway, would not worry about them, I learnt a lot from watching utube vids from Simplify gardening

funguST · 2 Jun 2022 at 15:57

Thanks guys, ive tried dumping out the top 5 inches of soil (just bellow the contaminated level) and just grabbed some other peat free compost. See how it goes. Will leave them alone now.