Wireworms!! Should I use nematodes?

[Sevensilverrings]

We spent last year building the framework for a veg plot, starting off from untouched field (which I believe is why we are now swarming with wireworms).
My onion crop had been tunnelled completely. The potatoes are going to be useless. Because I only finished the structure of the garden last autumn we’ve not grown root crops up until now, but even the weeds I pull have the buggers chewing at their roots.
I’ve dug over, paid the children per worm, let the chickens at em, generally shouted and raged, and now I’m ready for something that works. Nematodes?? Please tell me it’s not a con and they actually work!!?
I’ve worked so so hard on this plot, and right now it’s fairly useless.....help!

Watching with interest. I have the same problem.

I've used nematodes for vine weevils (not wireworm) and they worked brilliantly. They were in all my pots but I only realised when my fatsia japonica fell over as they'd eaten all the roots, nematodes saved the rest of my plants.

Oooh. Thanks, that’s hopeful! I’m in the process of constructing arches and wigwams for beans, while thinking it’s a waste of time...hopefully the little beasties can sort it out!
Who knew gardening was all out warfare!

Bumping just in case anyone else knows how to banish wireworms....I want to grow some root crops!

Personally no they have been known to be harmful to bees

I've never used them but understand they're pretty effective if used as per the instructions but do work out expensive so maybe good for smaller areas?

If you're willing to wait couple of months & do late sowings of root crops you can sow Caliente mustard (needs to be that specific variety) then chop well with a spade & dig in as per instructions you can find online. Then wait 2 weeks for it to break down before planting.

Also for a smaller area and probably combined with either of the above you can 'plant' pieces of potato as a trap to attract any remaining worms then dig up & feed to your chickens.

Good luck! Generally it's a fairly shortlived problem & resolves within a couple of seasons of a new garden, I realise that's not much of a consolation right now.

We used nematodes on a copper beech with weevils on it, seemed to work, either that or they moved on elsewhere. Only applied them once, was pretty straight forward. Package arrived and was tiny, but diluted in lots of water and watered them in.

I squished dozens of them today so might give nematodes a try.

I did read about planting some sacrificial potatoes a few years ago but didn't get around to trying it. Apparently if done at the right time, the worms will infest these potatoes which you dig up and dispose of before planting the "real" spuds. No idea if it works though.

I’m oddly comforted it’s not just me (sorry)! I had read about the mustard, so might give that a try, and think I will invest in the nematodes.
They also left the brassica alone last year, so will plant that sort of thing again. It takes a determined bug to ruin kale. Don’t really mind playing the long game, it’s been years in the dreaming and planning this garden, and I finally have it, so I can work with it now and find solutions....just a little frustrating! Enjoying watching my chickens eat the buggers though!
Good luck to others dealing with them!