Vine Weevil on Begonia Corms

For the first time this year I grew Giant Picotee Begonias and they were really spectacular.
Today when I started taking them out of their containers in order to store them for the winter I noticed what looks like vine weevil grubs in the corms. I know what my options are for keeping the little rotters at bay next year. But does anyone have a suggestion about how to ensure the little blighters are zapped before I store the corms. And what are the suggestions for dealing with the old compost in the containers.

Cuddly hairies are about 4mm long and refused to answer any questions :(

 

I have the same problem with some lily corms i lifted earlier i washed all the grubs off and treated all my containers with a mixture of vine weevil killer2 from provado

 

You could try soaking the corms in provado at spray strength for a short while Dave.
But I'm not sure what effect it has on begonias, I killed quite a few corms with it when it first came out as a vineweevil killer.
At least I think thats what killed them, they just didn't grow again the next year.
Think I'd just pick out as many as I could and keep a close eye on the corms through the winter.

 

I would hose the corm with a fairly powerful water jet to get rid of the weevils and any clinging soil. Once the corms are clean you should be able to pick off any remaining grubs. A quick whiff of Provado shouldn't do any harm afterwards. Once you are happy, dry them off and store in a cool dry place to thoroughly dehydrate. Place in cardboard boxes and cover with dry peat, shredded paper or chopped straw and make sure there are no mice getting at them during the winter.

I have a feeling that vine weevil exude nasty enzimes to soften roots before they are consumed and you need to get that goo off if you want to have a chance at rescuing them.

Regarding the soil, I tend to spread it on a hard surface or sheet of poly where the birds will quicky recycle vine weevil into benifical poo for your garden. Robins and Blackbirds love 'em and it always seems a very satisifying way for the blighters to meet their demise. :D Once they have picked it over it can go on the garden or compost heap.

[ 04. December 2006, 10:50 PM: Message edited by: frogesque ]

 

Many thanks for the suggstions fellas. I'll invest in some Provado and dunk and dry before I store. I emptied the final three containers today and there was no sign of weevils in them. Only the three containing the best and biggest plants have been hit.
Thanks again!

 

My friend if you are going to purchase the vine weevil killer2 it would probably be the best idea to treat all your valued container plants, the product if used correctly will keep the blighters out for up to four months, the guidelines say to mix 30ml to a litre of water it forms an emulsion that you just water onto the soil i have used it for a couple of years after seeing the roots of my prized fuschia devoured.

 

The problem is this stuff only lasts a few months. The professional growers are all now using a product which i think is called Vinol, which is granules mixed into the compost. I used to use compost that had Suscron Green added but that seems to become ineffective after a while.
Does anyone know of a suppplier of the new product?

 

Hi geoff, I am not aware of an alternative product that is available to the general public, but if people belong to an allotment club the club may be able to purchase a commercially available product? but you are quite right lasting only a few months is a headache and the vine weevil killer2 is not too cheap i paid �£7 for a 1litre bottle although it should last a good while depending on how many containers you need to treat.

 

Have heard of something called Interceptor,that is either a compost or to be added to it.Will try & find out more.

 

I pick out all the weevils I can find in our pots and trays at work and feed them to my Fire Bellied toads so they are "recycled" :D

 

Ihad this problem last year with my datura.vine weevil killer helped but Istillhad lots of holes in the leaves and would appreciate some advice'thanks .carolla.

 

carolla, are you sure your problem is vine weevil? Have you found grubs, about a half inch ( 12mm )long and slightly curved in the compost? If so you have vine weevil, if not then the odds are you do not have vine weevil. Let me know. David.

 

Carolla - the adult beetles will not be killed by pravado - they may be the cause of your holey leaves - though there are many other culprits.

Holes in leaves, I can live with roots being chewed off I can not.