You are certainly free to do as you wish... But, having openened the topic for opinions, here's mine for your consideration... Seems like it would be easiest (and free) to just squash the 5 bugs and their eggs. You've already done the hard part - finding them. I assume you are growing potatoes to save money or to have fresh organic ones. The $ you spent on Sevin is probably more than the cost of any potatoes you might lose by not using it. If you want to eat food that had carbaryl on it, it seems easier to just buy them and leave the chemicals to the professionals. You could investigate a companion plant for the potatoes that would attract a predator of the beetles. Whatever you decide, best of luck to you and your potatoes! Here is a link that might be useful: Sevin is not an entity I wish to support or perpetuate

pnbrown - around here immigrants tend to be interested in growing vegetables (and fruits)in general. The locals want to grow pizza ;o) Completely off topic (some more!) an amigo from El Salvadore was telling me the other day how they grow watermelon in his old country. Rather than plant melon seeds in a hill, they dig a pit some 4 to 5 feet in diameter, and plant in that (trying to catch extra rain water). He said it was common to have watermelons that were 4 feet long! He grew the same seed last year at the community garden and got a good 2 footer out of it, but doesn't think the season is long enough to grow a melon that is much bigger (given we had a hot, dry season last year) And back to potatoes - got mine in Apr 10 and they look like Bill's. Been a job protecting them from the frost this year, however. Cheers, Tim

Yes, I agree with all of you guys.I will add a little bit from my experience and that is they will remain clean and fresh since they are stored in the cellar at low temp.Temps. are on cool side during winter in zone 7.Remove the top of the shoots. Be careful not to damage the roots. Good luck.

Marie & c2g - Thanks for the advice. I will look up that book. I feel like I should clear up the fact that my land is not a wasteland with no good trees! LOL! We have maples in the front and back yard and scattered around our property. We have a beautiful hickory in the old pasture. On our property we also have lots of other hickories, maples, wild cherries (one that is at least 100 years old - not my estimate but someone more knowledgeable), oaks, aspen, black walnut and many, many more. About 1/3 of our 20 acres is wooded. The trees I got on clearance are ones I am willing to take the risk on. It may look like a bad risk to most of you but I am risking it with my eyes wide open and realistic expectations. If they don't work out I barely lose anything but time and I have that to spare. My lawn will still be beautiful without them and if they do survive - even if only a couple survive - it is worth my time. This is what I ended up buying: 2 Harvest Gold crabapples 1 Yoshino cherry 1 Kanzan cherry 1 Fairview Flame maple Total cost was a bit less then $60. I hope you will wish me good luck with them but I understand everyone who thinks I'm being foolhardy. Thanks again so much for all the useful advice. Karen