Help needed

[Growbagclaire]

Hi all I have been grown bell peppers for the first time ever I have got alot growing and smell lovely but I have yet been unable to eat them as every time I pick the ripe ones its already been eaten by a creature. Is there any way I can stop this napping as I'm losing all my crop.

Thank you.


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[Tripmeup]

Any pics?
But I'd probably say it is the same as everyone else's bane this year... Caterpillar!

[Two_Sheds]

Is there any way I can stop this napping

predictive text?

[kathyd]

It's difficult when you don't know what the 'creature' is that's eating them..! I have the same problem with my peppers, there's 'something' eating them but I'm not sure what. I've not seen any caterpillars on them, but I have hundreds of other bugs both flying and crawling in my polytunnel, most of which I don't recognise and most of which don't seem to do any harm at all. However, I'm checking them every day, I've removed some of the leaves around the fruits to let the last of the sunshine get to them like you do with tomatoes (don't know if I should have done or not, but it seems to be working so far ), and I'm picking some of them just before they finish ripening. Even when they get munched, it's usually only in one small place and we can eat the rest. I think until we can identify the problem, it's just a matter of checking constantly and picking as rapidly as possible... If I was really desperate, I'd pick them green rather than wait for them to change colour!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Several possibilities, caterpillars, fly larva or even slugs.

Potty

[rustylady]

You forgot the snails Potty

[Potstubsdustbins]

Sorry RL snails also.

Potty