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diva77

(7,647 posts) Tue Jul 23, 2019, 06:42 PM Jul 2019

Adventures in newbie gardening!

Yesterday, the kale had a few pinholes in it here and there. No varmints could be located.

This morning, every single plant looked like an inverted umbrella without the webbing. You'd think there might be a varmint waddling around from all that kale, but nope, nada.

14 replies

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Adventures in newbie gardening! (Original Post) diva77 Jul 2019 OP

wait til they find onethatcares Jul 2019 #1

LOLOLOL!!! elleng Jul 2019 #2

Oh, no - I'm not getting the joke...woe is me!! diva77 Jul 2019 #4

Snails or slugs sounds like to me. WheelWalker Jul 2019 #3

Thanks for input -- altho. I can say for sure it's not snails or slugs in this case. diva77 Jul 2019 #5

go look at night. mopinko Jul 2019 #6

Ah, thanks - will definitely try these techniques. Cannot wait to find the diva77 Jul 2019 #7

Would sifting DE over the plants help control these pests??? nt in2herbs Jul 2019 #8

What is "DE" ? diva77 Jul 2019 #9

Diatomaceous earth. I buy mine at the feed store but you're likely to be able to get it in2herbs Jul 2019 #10

One more thing: don't buy DE used for pools. nt in2herbs Jul 2019 #12

Thanks, will look into this as a possibility. diva77 Jul 2019 #13

Put out some shallow bowls of beer in the evening. Come morning it could be full of snails. Deb Jul 2019 #11

Good technique to know for the future -- snails have been ruled out for this diva77 Jul 2019 #14

onethatcares

(16,175 posts)

1. wait til they find

Reply to diva77 (Original post)

Tue Jul 23, 2019, 06:45 PM

Jul 2019

yur maters

elleng

(131,006 posts)

2. LOLOLOL!!!

Reply to onethatcares (Reply #1)

Tue Jul 23, 2019, 06:47 PM

Jul 2019

diva77

(7,647 posts)

4. Oh, no - I'm not getting the joke...woe is me!!

Reply to onethatcares (Reply #1)

Tue Jul 23, 2019, 06:49 PM

Jul 2019

can you explain?

WheelWalker

(8,955 posts)

3. Snails or slugs sounds like to me.

Reply to diva77 (Original post)

Tue Jul 23, 2019, 06:48 PM

Jul 2019

Turn over a rock during the day and discover the culprit.

diva77

(7,647 posts)

5. Thanks for input -- altho. I can say for sure it's not snails or slugs in this case.

Reply to WheelWalker (Reply #3)

Tue Jul 23, 2019, 06:51 PM

Jul 2019

mopinko

(70,149 posts)

6. go look at night.

Reply to diva77 (Original post)

Tue Jul 23, 2019, 06:56 PM

Jul 2019

japanese beetles would be my guess.
take a flashlight out, and look at night. some bugs will show up well under blacklight.
or put some yellow sticky cards out. they wont stop the infestation, but they will tell you what's crawling around.

diva77

(7,647 posts)

7. Ah, thanks - will definitely try these techniques. Cannot wait to find the

Reply to mopinko (Reply #6)

Tue Jul 23, 2019, 07:05 PM

Jul 2019

culprit(s) !!!!!

in2herbs

(2,945 posts)

8. Would sifting DE over the plants help control these pests??? nt

Reply to diva77 (Original post)

Tue Jul 23, 2019, 07:15 PM

Jul 2019

diva77

(7,647 posts)

9. What is "DE" ?

Reply to in2herbs (Reply #8)

Tue Jul 23, 2019, 07:21 PM

Jul 2019

in2herbs

(2,945 posts)

10. Diatomaceous earth. I buy mine at the feed store but you're likely to be able to get it

Reply to diva77 (Reply #9)

Tue Jul 23, 2019, 07:28 PM

Jul 2019

elsewhere. It's all natural and works. I sift it over my manure pile to keep the flies gone/down. The only caveat is the plant leaves have to be dry and I've also found it doesn't work well in high humidity as the diatoms loose their microscopic barbs when wet/damp. It's natural, cheap and worth trying. As I said I sift it over the intended surface. You don't have to use a lot but don't be stingy either. We also use it in our vege garden.