Sweet Potato Flea Beetle Sweet potato leaves are often damaged by sweet potato flea beetles (Chaetocnema confinis); however, most damage to the plant occurs from larvae feeding on the roots. Adult beetles are black, about 1/16-inch long and usually hop away when disturbed.
Why are there holes in my sweet potato vine leaves?
Holes in leaves are the sign of an insect feasting on your sweet potato vine, likely tortoise or flea beetles. To get rid of beetles, shake them off into a bucket of soapy water. Spread diatomaceous earth around the plant. You can also apply neem oil to the affected area.
What is eating the leaves off my sweet potato vine?
Holes in the leaves of morning glory and sweet potato vine may be the first clue your plants are infested with goldbug. This 5 to 7 mm long bright gold beetle is also known as the golden tortoise beetle. Both the adult and larvae feed on the leaves of all members of the morning glory family.
What is eating holes in my potato leaves?
Flea beetles usually don’t damage tubers, but their feeding does result in many small holes throughout leaves. These small “shot holes” can make potato plants susceptible to bacterial and fungal diseases such as Verticillium wilt and Fusarium rot.
What do you spray on sweet potato vines?
Insects to watch for
Sweet potato whitefly can be controlled with Year Round Spray Oil (spray under the leaves in early morning when it’s cool), bifenthrin or Malathion.
What eats holes in sweet potato leaves?
Sweet Potato Flea Beetle
Sweet Potato Flea Beetle
Adult beetles are black, about 1/16-inch long and usually hop away when disturbed. They are easily recognized by the tendency to eat narrow grooves in the upper surface of sweet potato leaves.
Should I trim my sweet potato vines?
Can I trim them to keep them in bounds? The vines of sweet potatoes tend to ramble far and wide, which is why many home gardeners don’t raise them. If vines are wandering out of bounds, try turning them back into the vegetable garden. It’s best not to trim vines; they help feed the potatoes.
Do sweet potato vines attract bugs?
Purple sweet potato vine plants also attract flea beetles and potato wireworms. Between early May and June, these pests come out of the ground to feed on the foliage. The field will serve as their breeding ground and their eggs will fall just beside the plant.
What can I spray on potatoes for bugs?
Neem Oil Spray
Neem oil is one of the most widely useful natural insecticides. It’s pressed from seeds of the tropical neem tree (Azadirachta indica, USDA zones 10-12), and it’s effective against Colorado potato beetles, leafhoppers, aphids and many other pests.
Do coffee grounds deter flea beetles?
Coffee grounds are a good repellent for flea beetles, but to get rid of them, the best and most effective option is diatomaceous earth, which will dehydrate the pests on contact.
What is a natural way to get rid of flea beetles?
How to Get Rid of Flea Beetles
- Try this homemade spray to control flea beetles: 2 cups isopropyl alcohol, 5 cups water, and 1 tablespoon liquid soap.
- Dusting leaves with plain talcum powder repels flea beetles on tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and other plants.
- Use white sticky traps to capture flea beetles as they jump.
How do you control the diseases and pests of sweet potatoes?
The following are general methods in controlling pests and diseases of sweetpotato.
These include the following:
- Selection of cultivars/varieties.
- Use of clean planting materials.
- Field sanitation.
- Crop rotation.
- Hilling up.
- Mulching.
- Timely harvesting.
What is a good companion plant for sweet potatoes?
Dill, chives, borage, summer savory, and oregano also make good companion plants for sweet potato vines. Plant these aromatic herbs nearby to ward off the destructive sweet potato weevil. 9. Alyssum: Sweet alyssum flowers serve as a ground cover plant while also attracting beneficial insects like wasps.
How do you take care of a sweet potato vine?
The care of sweet potato plants is similar to most other vining houseplants in the home, spending summers outdoors. While tolerant of drought, these plants prefer to be kept moist (not soggy). Though prolific growers, you may fertilize monthly, if desired, using a general all-purpose, water soluble fertilizer.
What are small black holes in sweet potatoes?
What do black spots on sweet potatoes mean? If your sweet potatoes have small black dots, they are still safe to eat. These can mean anything from bruising and oxidization to chemical reactions from cooking. However, if your sweet potato has deep black pits, that is a sign of rot and you should discard it.
Does homemade insecticidal soap work?
Insecticidal soap kill harmful insects like mites, aphids, thrips, white flies and immature leafhoppers. The fatty acids in the soap dissolve the insects’ exoskeleton, causing them to dehydrate. Many gardeners turn to this foamy remedy not only because it’s effective, but also because it is more eco-friendly.
How do you know when it’s time to dig up sweet potatoes?
Sweet potato varieties are ready to harvest 95 to 120 days after planting in the garden. When the leaves turn slightly yellow they are usually ready to harvest. Because they have thin skins sweet potatoes are easily damaged during harvest so extra care should be taken.
How often should you water sweet potato plants?
once a week
Newly planted sweet potato slips will need to be watered daily during their first week outside. Watering every other day during the second week will help establish plants. Once the plants are established, sweet potatoes can be watered once a week.
How often do you water sweet potato vines?
every 1-2 days
How often do you water sweet potato vine? Keep soil evenly moist. Make sure plants receive an inch of water per week, or more during extreme heat. Containerized plants will need to be watered more often, every 1-2 days during hot spells.
How long do potato bugs last?
The four larval instars last a total of 21 days. The larvae feed almost continuously on the leaves of the host plant, stopping only when molting. Larvae drop from the plants and burrow into the soil where they construct a spherical cell and transform into yellowish pupae. This lasts from five to 10 days.
What do potato bugs hate?
Several pungent plants also have a reputation for repelling a broad range of predatory insects. Garlic, catnip, chives and nasturtiums may provide your vegetables some additional protection against the potato beetle.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.