Cutworms

RC3291 4/8/2017, 2:24 pm

While I seem to have the cabbage moth caterpillars somewhat under control now I find cutworms seem to have invaded. My beans have had a problem and it's getting worse. I found two cutworms in my lettuce chia pet after it started to die. Had a couple of bean plants cut off at ground level this morning. I do know as in a horror movie they only come out at night. Did some reading and sprinkled crushed egg shell around the base of the beans. Lucky I have chickens to provide those. Without resorting to chemical pesticides anyone have an effective remedy for my newest invaders?

**Scorpio Rising** 4/8/2017, 3:00 pm

Diatomaceous earth.

Ginger Blue 4/9/2017, 8:41 am

To discourage cutworms, my neighbor (who has been gardening here for decades), strategically surrounds each of her seedlings with three nails, placed at close proximity to the stem. I've also read that toothpicks, placed in the same fashion, may be helpful.

Might be worth a shot - with the toothpicks. If using nails in a warm climate, my concern would be the hot metal burning sensitive roots or pushing the seedling into dormancy.

BeetlesPerSqFt 4/9/2017, 9:12 am

Collars for each plant. I've used TP tubes cut into 1/3rds. You can cut it open if the seedling is too wide to go through the solid ring. Some people use thick paper, some aluminum foil.

Some use pieces of plastic straws, slit lengthwise and put onto the stem like armor.

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Cutworms

Cutworms

Re: Cutworms

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Re: Cutworms


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