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Vegetable Gardening

Something is eating my veggies before I can.

Stephen Crocker

6 years ago

I have a raised community vegetable garden in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and it is growing very well and very fast. The only problem is that something is nibbling on my veggies before I do. While I dont mind having them around, it's getting a bit annoying seeing holes in my leaves. only bugs i see around are Isopods (Rolly polies), ants, daddy long legs, and the occasional earwig however, I don't think these guys are to blame.

I need some help identifying who is eating my veggies and how to keep them away, (the nice guys can stay). I'm not supposed to use chemical pesticides as the garden must remain organic.

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Comments (4)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
Bait for slugs and snails (there are natural/organic products for this purpose) and look for cutworms or larvae just under the soil surface. These can just be squashed if found - can't be squeamish and be a good gardener :-)). Otherwise, a few holes in leaves is something that can be tolerated, especially on plants like the tomatoes where the foliage is not the edible portion.

It is likely too late to do so now but protective row covers can keep all manner of flying insects from visiting and laying eggs.
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Stephen Crocker thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
6 years ago
Nothing I see looks fatal to me either. 1st looks like a leafminer of some sort - you can simply remove the affected parts & trash them. 2nd looks like healed over nibbles from something that's long gone. 2nd tomato pic looks like a leafhopper or other small sucking insect. Spinach might be a slug or snail, since they do love everything in that family. I use the iron-based slug & snail pellets for those guys.

FWIW, the rule of thumb is that plants can lose up to 1/3 of their foliage w/o serious detriment.

I just trim the bad spots off leaves before consuming.
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Stephen Crocker thanked carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
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BriAnDaren Ottawa, On Zone 5
6 years ago
pic 1 - leaf miners

pic 2 - ?caterpillar

pic 3, 4 & 5 - flea beetles

pic 6 - ?caterpillar

Daren
0
Stephen Crocker thanked BriAnDaren Ottawa, On Zone 5
Stephen Crocker
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you all for your helpful comments!
0

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