3392 Something is eating my Orto !!!

Just popped down to the Orto to check on progress and something has eaten about 30 of my latest set of lettuce seedlings...only got about 4 left of this batch....also Zucchini plants which are well established looking a bit sad round the base !

Have put down slug pellets but must confess I haven't noticed any signs of slugs yet but the pelletts are on sale in all the gardening outlets so assume they are a problem. Also put down ant powder and sprayed with insectiside...so much for organic farming !!!:rolleyes: I can't lose everything..it was hard work getting it going !!!

Any ideas or tips greatly appreciated.

Category
Gardening & Agriculture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/26/2006 - 03:13

Could it be cutworm? They attack from below ground level so leave little sign of their presence. The standard non-chemical way to deal with them is to place a paper/cardboard 'collar' around your plants - they can't penetrate this.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/26/2006 - 03:24

Have to say as well I am impressed that you already have plants in your garden - I can only start sowing this week, and that is under cover too. Planting out will have to wait another month.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/26/2006 - 03:50

There is a horrible pest called the grillotalpa (a burrowing sort of cricket) which is very active at this time of year, and could be the cause of the zucchini problem.
The suggestion in one book is to bury the tins used for tomatoes (or baked beans if you like!) with their top edge level with the soil, and half fill them with water - to which you can add a bit of insecticide. These pests are expected to drown themselves in the tins. I have never tried it, but it might be a worthwhile trial, because if you find a drowned one at least you will know what you are dealing with!
Have the lettuce seedlings entirely disappeared, or just keeled over?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/26/2006 - 04:08

[QUOTE=alex and lyn].......Any ideas or tips greatly appreciated.[/QUOTE]

Try the local OrtoFruta!
;)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/28/2006 - 14:59

I would be surprised if it wasnt rabbits !Even if you dont see them the little blighters come out at night!

Try the lightweight fleece you can buy for crop protection.I find it works well for rabbits as well as flying insects!Costs about 50p a meter.

Becky

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/28/2006 - 15:21

manopello - you obviously have not been educated in contadino lore :)
There are no wild rabbits - there are long eared hares, and short eared hares!!!
But you could certainly be right that a "short eared hare" is eating the lettuces, but probably not the courgettes from the info supplied by alex and lynn.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/28/2006 - 16:36

[QUOTE=Relaxed]...
There are no wild rabbits - there are long eared hares, and short eared hares!!!...[/QUOTE]

I was of the impression that there was no such thing as long [b]or[/b] short eared hares, only [i]secondi[/i]
:D

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/28/2006 - 16:51

"Secondi"? - well, you are Tuscans....dunno about this one!! :) :)

Aaargh - centesimi has finally dropped (but what is sauce for the primo can also be the secondo)!!