EVIL WEEVILS
Last year I went to sow some carrot seeds in my very large pots and on turning over the compost noticed lots of grub-like creatures which I am pretty sure are vine weevils.
Wendy Harris, Devon
STEVE SAYS: The grubs could well be vine weevil larvae. To confirm, they will be c-shaped and cream coloured with brown heads if so.
Vine weevils are very common and love to lay their eggs on or near the surface of the compost around many garden plants and vegetables, but especially anything with a fleshy root or tuber.
Where they have been found I would consider either replacing the compost, or at least the top half of it, or treating it with a biological control called Nemasys Natural Vine Weevil Killer. The latter should be applied when the compost is at least 5C (41F) to work effectively.
Sprinkling fine horticultural grit over the surface once the seeds have germinated can also help to deter the egg-laying adults.