Colorado potato beetles are extremely unwelcome in any potato patch. If you don't want to resort to chemicals right away, you should try this household tip first:
Tips for controlling the Colorado potato beetle
Horseradish against Colorado potato beetles
However, if you plant Horseradish around the beds, the pests will no longer get too close to the potatoes.
Dried coffee grounds against Colorado potato beetles
It is best to sprinkle the coffee grounds on the leaves early in the morning; the beetles do not like the coffee and will not infest the treated plants.
Pre-sprouting potatoes
If you plant potatoes that have already been pre-sprouted, they will have a head start in growth over the Colorado potato beetles.
Promoting beneficial insects
Natural enemies of the Colorado potato beetle are bugs and ground beetles. Ensure that these insects can be found in your garden and have places to live. Rely on flowering wildflower meadows or many flowering plants on the balcony for this.
Collecting Colorado potato beetles
If it is only a small bed or a pot on the balcony, the Colorado potato beetles can also be collected by hand. For effective control, the larvae and eggs must also be removed. The best time for this is early in the morning.
Read also:Â What to do about pests in potted plants
Photo by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
