Bugs are eating the leaves on my vegetable plants...Help!

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

I'm new at this, and not really sure what to do. I've planted a vegetable garden........5 different types of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, basil, and parsley.

Seems the bugs are eating all the leaves on my plants.

I noticed this morning that my cucumber plants have quite a bit of damage. Same for my basil. Just a little bit on by peppers, but I'm afraid that they're going to ruin my garden.


Not really sure what to do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm trying to keep the garden organic, so chemicals won't do.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

Kinda depends on what it is that's eating them.

A few non-chemical things to try:

human hair around the perimeter
crushed red pepper
hang old/bad cds to scare them with reflection
slugs: pie pan of beer

you could get some garden fencing to put around your crop - barrier method has been most effective for me

Good luck! I know how frustrating it is. My tomato plants aren't tall enuf yet for the deer to start nibbling, but it's coming ... I never plant beans anymore because of bunnies. Will never plant corn again because the deer eat the stalks.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

Two things quickly come to mind: Lady bugs, or manually removed bugs. But that really depends on what is eating your leaves. Lady bugs eat some things like aphids, but larger bugs you may have to pull off the plants. Tomatoes usually are not going to be too bad. Some leaves may be nibbled, but few bugs actually like the leaves. Birds will get into the tomatoes as they ripen. The Cukes-not sure what would be effective on them for reducing the bug problem. Washing the leaves with a liquid soap solution and then rinsing with water often works well at removing bugs. Bugs that show up at night and are gone in the day are not going to be affected by that method.

I know that a mixture of cayenne pepper, water, liquid soap and glue and then sprayed on to the plants has been used for squirrels and rabbits, but not sure if it would work for bugs.

I would stop by a home center or garden center for suggestions.

Problem I have on my broccoli is a moth lays eggs. Eggs hatch and I have lots of caterpillars eating the leaves. Pretty bad when you are cooking broccoli and the worms float on the water. I am NOT going organic. I will spray what ever it takes (usually Sevin) to get a garden. KILL KILL KILL. If you are not using chemicals in the last few weeks before harvest, there is minimal concern. As always-read the instructions.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

5 different types of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, basil, and parsley. I'm trying to keep the garden organic, so chemicals won't do.

That's 5 different types of each of those, wow, big garden. All, I can say is, better living through chemicals!

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Thanks. I have no idea what's eating them. And, even if I actually saw the bug, I doubt that I would know what it was. Do I just sprinkle the red pepper all around the plants?

Kinda depends on what it is that's eating them.

A few non-chemical things to try:

human hair around the perimeter
crushed red pepper
hang old/bad cds to scare them with reflection
slugs: pie pan of beer

you could get some garden fencing to put around your crop - barrier method has been most effective for me

Good luck! I know how frustrating it is. My tomato plants aren't tall enuf yet for the deer to start nibbling, but it's coming ... I never plant beans anymore because of bunnies. Will never plant corn again because the deer eat the stalks.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

vintner

I would stop by a home center or garden center for suggestions.

Yeah, I guess that's my best bet. Thanks!

Problem I have on my broccoli is a moth lays eggs. Eggs hatch and I have lots of caterpillars eating the leaves. Pretty bad when you are cooking broccoli and the worms float on the water.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

That's 5 different types of each of those, wow, big garden. All, I can say is, better living through chemicals!

No, sorry, I didn't make myself clear with that statement. I have 5 different types of tomatoes, and 5 different types of peppers. Two types of parsley, and just 1 type of basil, and cuc.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

If you've got big holes in the leaves, slugs or snails are likely culprits. If you see trails of dried mucus you definitely have snails or slugs.

The beer in pie tin works well. I suggest Bud or Miller - the highest and best use for those beverages (including their "Lite" counterparts) is as slug bait.

I set my tin out Sunday afternoon in one of the flower beds, and when I checked this morning I had almost 20 dead slugs.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

I've heard to plant Marigolds all along the outside the garden. This does not do anything for the bugs but may help for the hungry walking critters.

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

I suggest Bud or Miller - the highest and best use for those beverages (including their "Lite" counterparts) is as slug bait.

Thanks for the chuckle, Steve. I couldn't agree more.

Kurt

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

I've heard to plant Marigolds all along the outside the garden. This does not do anything for the bugs but may help for the hungry walking critters.

Kinda like your timeshare expertise [], Marigolds are a natural pesticide for BUGS.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

I suggest Bud or Miller - the highest and best use for those beverages (including their "Lite" counterparts) is as slug bait.

My last tenants at my Washington DC 'timeshare' left Bud Light in the fridge for me, in addition to slug bait, it did work well for Beer Butt Chicken!

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

My last tenants at my Washington DC 'timeshare' left Bud Light in the fridge for me, in addition to slug bait, it did work well for Beer Butt Chicken!

Did you put any seasonings in the beer? That works slick, not for the bugs, but great for the chicken.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

For the cucumbers, look for yellow and black striped or spotted beetles. Kill them. Look for their eggs on the undersides of the leaves- crush them. There is a relatively harmless powder you can put on the plants that will keep them away , but right now I cannot thing of the name of it.

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

When I had a vegetable garden...I used to go out at night and pick the offenders off my plants. Some of them were pretty large catepillars.
Slugs are pretty easy to control by placing beer down or crushed eggshells around the base of the plants.