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Post by keith on Feb 4, 2020 3:07:06 GMT
What's eating my tomato leaves and mint leaves? I do not think is snails as I feed them very well and no dead ones around.
What can I use to remove these pests except chemical sprays as I am picking tomatoes every morning?
Keith
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Post by SueA on Feb 4, 2020 9:55:21 GMT
It could be cutworms/caterpillars maybe? Check for any big fat green/brown caterpillars amongst the leaves & you can just pick them off, they're moth caterpillars I think, I've found them munching on tomato & chrysanth leaves sometimes, although they're quite big they're hard to spot.
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Post by keith on Feb 4, 2020 22:34:55 GMT
Sue
There are no visible signs any where on the tomato plants. My thoughts are Earwigs but where are they hiding.
Keith
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Post by keith on Feb 5, 2020 4:31:12 GMT
I took a small stem to the garden shop and they think it could be "White Fly" and a small grub.
I bought a safe spray and ASAP I will be getting a sticky tape to catch the flies.
Keith
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Post by Cherry on Feb 5, 2020 10:00:12 GMT
If these are the tomato plants you mentioned about suitable fertiliser, when they get really healthy, they won’t attract whitefly easily. Whitefly is nasty and in our greenhouses here we use encarsia. I dont think this would be helpful outside.
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Post by sweetpea on Feb 5, 2020 10:50:48 GMT
Whitefly don't leave holes in the leaves, more of a sticky residue and are more of a pest in the g'house rather than outdoors. Easiest way to deal with whitefly indoors is to hang sticky yellow traps alongside. Unfortunately they also trap beneficial insects too which is why I don't use them.
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Post by Cherry on Feb 5, 2020 14:49:39 GMT
I wonder if it is something you can live with.
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Post by keith on Feb 6, 2020 1:07:45 GMT
Sweetpea
The holes were buy a grub not the flies sorry my mistake. I have just soaked a piece of corrugated cardboard under the tomatoes and see I that catches any thing.
Keith
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Post by keith on Feb 8, 2020 2:17:03 GMT
Yesterday I gave the tomatoes with a fine strong hosing. 100s of white flies were every where. Next day "Today" I gave another hosing and only saw a few White Flies. I am wondering as the White Flies leave a sticky on the leaves could this be what the ?? are eating and leaving the holes on the leaves? Keith
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Post by keith on Feb 15, 2020 7:12:16 GMT
Here is an extra to this.
I now know its not living in the ground and its flying. I have a self sown small plant growing in a pot with a Carnation. The pot is on the BBQ/ tiled bench at least 2mt from the two Tomato plants in the garden.
Keith
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Post by Cherry on Feb 15, 2020 15:53:44 GMT
It looks like your elimination is paying off keith.
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Post by keith on Feb 15, 2020 23:10:50 GMT
This morning I will be cutting out as many as I can of the eaten bits and pieces. This will let more light in and allow me to pick them easier. At the moment picking 30-40+ every morning.
After all that another Seasol feeding.
Keith
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Post by keith on Feb 27, 2020 0:20:59 GMT
Finally problem solved. This morning while picking a few tomatoes a little passenger attached its self to my sleeve. BINGO problem solved it was a thin 2cm green Caterpillar. Warm weather expected in a few days that means removing more dead or eaten leaves I might find more I hope. Keith
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