Protect potatoes from flea beetles with rhubarb leaves?

One of our grow places had a terrible infestation of potato flea beetles last year. Leaves were destroyed and tubers heavily damaged. This year we're planting potatoes at least 50 yards away in a vacant soil patch unused for years.

I would like to beef up my defences. I know the beetles lay eggs on the stem where it meets the soil.

I've heard of chopping and simmering rhubarb leaves for an oxalic acid spray to deter insects. But we're only there once a week.

We have lots of rhubarb on site. I wonder if spreading their leaves under the potato plants weekly would deter the little finks.

Thoughts?

I don't see how it could hurt?

I imagine the presence of the leaves might be a deterrent, but at the very least you have just did some chop and drop for your potatoes.  

The potential downside is that it could shed rain away from the potatoes' roots, which we can't afford in this drought. Hmm, I need to think about how to set this up.

Wish I had some answers for you as we are fast approaching 'the season'.  I think you could just place the leaves along the rows without worrying too much about them blocking rainfall to the roots of your potatoes....there will be enough gaps I wager in your layer to let that happen.  Would be interesting to hear of your results.  Do you have to combat potato beetle as well or just the flea beetles?

Maybe some useful info here?.... >>> https://eorganic.org/node/12461

John Weiland wrote: Do you have to combat potato beetle as well or just the flea beetles?

Maybe some useful info here?.... >>> https://eorganic.org/node/12461

It's just the potato flea beetle. Last year they even attacked my scarlet runner beans that were nearby. Didn't touch the squash, carrots or beets.

Excellent link with good information -- I think I found the same site a while ago.

I'll plant potatoes late (these are winter keepers) and try to sprinkle diatomaceous earth as well, but that gets pricey.

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:.....Didn't touch the squash, carrots or beets.

Interesting.....I don't worry about flea beetles on our copious procution of Swiss chard which would dovetail with your beet observation.  Although we do get flea beetle on our potatoes, damage has never been enough to be of concern.  I cringe at the thought of taking young beautiful chard leaves that could be eaten and laying them down between our potato rows.  It may be a year to ask neighbors with overload of rhubarb if they would be willing to send the tops my way after making all of that pie filling and jam!

PS;  It's been around 35C this week.....please don't send that forecasted frost our way for this coming weekend..!? ;-)

John Weiland wrote:PS;  It's been around 35C this week.....please don't send that forecasted frost our way for this coming weekend..!?

I am dancing for rain, not frost. I shall dance a little harder for no frost, with my two left feet.