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what's eating my veg?

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  • 06-06-2012 9:51am
    #1
    pepperpixie
    Registered Users Posts: 99 ✭✭


    ok, basically i'm fairly new to gardening have a little polytunne and have raised beds (on stilts) in my tunnel, the ground is hardcored with rough stones. The last couple of days i've noticed several holes in some of my plants but all in the centre of the leaves not on the edges as if it's slug damage. I've checked the leaves and can't find any bugs on them so not sure what it could be, any ideas?? Seems to be mainly the aubergine and chilli plants that have been munched on, all salads tomatoes and squash seems fine so far.


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    #2
    paddy147
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 15,858 ✭✭✭✭paddy147


    green fly or carrot flys perhaps???


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    #3
    redser7
    Registered Users Posts: 2,730 ✭✭✭redser7


    I don't think they'd make munch holes though would they? I would say it is slugs. Have you tried a few pellets? You could stand the legs of your raised beds in containers filled with salted water. Slugs and snails could crawl up, have a munch and retire for the day easily. But they wont crawl into salt water :) They might also be hiding in the raised bed soil so if you have no problem using pellets you could try a few.


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    #4
    pepperpixie
    Registered Users Posts: 99 ✭✭pepperpixie


    yup i'm at a loss to be honest, will try take a picture later. Really would be surprised if it's slugs, the edges of the plants not touched at all just the centre of the leaves. The soil from in the raised beds is all compost manure etc from bags so don't think they were in their, and for them to come into the tunnel they would have to slither along all the rough stones, have looked for green fly etc and can't see any!! Have seen many different types of flies and spiders in there alright, any of them likely to eat plants??? :confused:


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    #5
    brno
    Registered Users Posts: 56 ✭✭brno


    You have slugs!!!! They could be in the clay.They sometimes go for inside leaves as they are more tender.Use pellets,every other remedy just slows them down, the pellets stop them completely.By the way,thats a super tunnel,homemade?


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    #6
    redser7
    Registered Users Posts: 2,730 ✭✭✭redser7


    Nice setup there! If it's not slugs it could also be caterpillars. Check each plant carefully as they can blend in with the foliage. If it's any consolation mine are getting chomped a bit too. Am using a few pellets.


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    #7
    pepperpixie
    Registered Users Posts: 99 ✭✭pepperpixie


    thanks guys, nope wish it was a home made tunnel then i wouldn't have had to remortgage the house to pay for it ha ha. Disgusted it's slugs, guess they must have been hiding in the bags of compost :( Will get some pellets so. Thanks again.


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    #8
    Zuiderzee
    Closed Accounts Posts: 593 ✭✭✭Zuiderzee


    very nice polytunnel - well done, grand job.
    The small holes could be vine weevil.

    Best advice I can give you is order supernemo (nemo.ie) a broad spectrum nematode pest control made right here in Ireland


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