Tweet
Ive noticed today that one of my strawberry plants and a chilli plant has been the result of somethings dinner. Some of the leaves are well munched by what im not sure. they look like the result of a caterpillar or a slug. there is no signs of any caterpillers on anything in the tunnel.the plants are in a polytunnel and im wondering would slugs attack the leaves of a strawberry plant and a chilli plant or is it something else at work? and whats the best treatment to use
-
-
Give these a try i have done some looking about on the web..
It might be slugs. They really love my strawberry plants. We use egg shells that have been rinsed and then allowed to dry for a week or so. break those up around your strawberry plants. Slugs don't like to crawl over them because they're sharp and as they decompose they'll give the soil more calcium. Works for other veggies being attacked by slugs too.
put some copper tape around the base of the plants as it could be snails,we haven't seen any snail or slugs on the plants. You can get the tape at any garden store. It is a little expensive, but it works. and it doesn't harm the environment.
If something is eating the leaves it is probably caterpillars. If so, here is a recipe for a tonic:
1/2 lb of wormwood leaves
2Tbs Murphy's oil soap
1 gallon of water
simmer the wormwood leaves in 2 cups of water for 30 min.
strain, then add the liquid and the soap to 2 more cups of water. Apply with a sprayer to the point of runoff. Repeat as necessary.
You can also dust the leaves with cayenne pepper when they are still damp with morning due. This repells a whole mess of pests.
Awesome organic pesticide recipe:
2 parts garlic
2 parts onion
1 part Copper Sulphate (harmful to humans and animals but effective on bugs)
3 parts Tobacco
1 parts Pine oil (quite effective for aphids)
2 parts Liquid Detergent
Mix the last two together and add the rest. Add 30 parts water and steep for 4-6 hours. Strain and spray on to the plants.
If this is not enough to stop them in their tracks, use the "neem only" approach:
Get enough fresh neem leaves to fill a 1 litre pot. Chop the leaves and cover with a litre of water, steep for 1 day, and strain. Store in a bottle. This juice is not very stable, so if possible, try to use fresh juice. Neem oil is even better, if you can find it. Neem juice or oil can be sprayed directly onto the affected parts of the plant.
Good luck. -
It's most likely to be snails. Especially the little tiny baby ones that can get anywhere, climb anywhere, and leave without a trace.All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
Comment