HELP! My poor veggie garden has some sort of pest I haven't seen before!!! I'm not sure what to do.... It's attacking the leaves on my
potatoes, zucchini, and tomatoes. I've looked and looked, but can't see any culprits (no beetles, caterpillars, moths, etc.). I'm looking for
organic solutions. Any ideas out there?
garden pests!!!
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 1dandelion |
garden pests!!! |
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Posts: 645 07/05/09 09:50:34 |
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.
J.R.R. Tolkien |
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nikkivegan |
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Posts: 2 07/06/09 03:20:50 |
I know this doesnt help your problem but i have the same issues this year. The critters are eating up all my flowers. I spray them with soap water and that
seems to slow the munching down but it doesnt seem to stop it
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NikoleK |
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Posts: 1415 07/06/09 04:53:55 |
that looks like caterpillar or slug damage. you could try putting down a mulch that they don't like to crawl over, like pine needles.
i think if you go out first thing in the morning and check them it might be the best time to find out who the culprit is to be sure. if its slugs, you can put down a piece of wood, they love that, they'll hang out underneath in the dampness, then you can flip it over and let the birds have a tasty meal. they really do seem to be hitting you pretty good. good luck! i'm trying to bun-proof my flower garden, little suckers took out my prettiest mallow plant! |
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veganfoodie |
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Posts: 676 07/06/09 06:02:54 |
I joined a CSA program this year and had to go see their operation and some veggies had damage that look just like yours. Here's an excerpt from an email
we received. Perhaps that's what you have?
"you'll notice that the Arugula has a bunch of not-so-tiny holes in it. This is damage due to the flea beatle. Every year, try as we gardeners do, some of our early crops in the Brassica family get chewed on by these little guys. The flavour is still there, but the esthetic quality of the leaves are admmitedly lacking. We are trying out a new type of row cover, a protective barrier that you place over top of your crops, however the holes in the screen weren't quite small enough to keep the little flea beatle larvae out. We've cut the first lot of arugula, and covered it again, hoping the re-growth will be nicer-looking for you all. " Although he mentions brassica family, perhaps they like tomatoes and potatoes too? W My fond memories of Charlie are his gifts to me for life. |
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1dandelion |
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Posts: 646 07/06/09 07:25:24 |
Yup.... I've learned a bit about the flea beetles..... could be.... when I shake the leaves, there's definite movement of flying things, but I
can't quite get a handle on the little buggers (some are just mosquitoes, flies, etc). I'm absolutely amazed at how elusive the answer (and therefore,
solution) is to me. I spent HOURS online yesterday, looking at photos of different bugs, deciding if I'd seen them, reading about how to treat, etc.
Slugs are definitely present in my garden, but it doesn't make sense to me that they would be chewing the very tops of all of my plants. I know
they're more tender, but if you were a slug, wouldn't you go for the easiest meal? And, if you were a slug, would you like zucchini leaves that are
all hairy and rough? hmmmmm. I just went down and looked again.... I'm SO bummed. Have read different organic remedies (each for different pests, but it
can't hurt, can it?) like baking soda diluted and sprayed on, coffee grinds at the base of the plants (that's for slugs) and spraying coffee on the
leaves..... I'm going to try a mixture of those right now, but should probably try taking a leaf or two to a local gardening centre.
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.
J.R.R. Tolkien |
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NikoleK |
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Posts: 1419 07/13/09 04:17:11 |
any luck doll?
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1dandelion |
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Posts: 653 07/13/09 04:32:23 |
Well, I took a leaf in to my local gardening centre and they said that it's beetles of some sort. They said everyone's been complaining of the same
problem this year, due to the high amount of rainfall we've had. They sold me a homemade concoction that is made with pine juice, so it's completely
safe and organic. I have to spray for 7 to 21 days continuously. Was away for the wknd so haven't started yet... but came home to plants that grew quite
a lot, so they're not being harmed too much. Will be interesting to see how their juice works!
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.
J.R.R. Tolkien |
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NikoleK |
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Posts: 1420 07/13/09 06:03:00 |
yeah you'll have to let me know that concoction if it ends up working out for you
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