What's eating my peppers?

[harleysilo]

And how do I KILL them?

Sorry just realized there is a differnet forum for this type of stuff.

[Mischka]

Place several shallow saucers of cheap beer (don't waste the good stuff on 'em ) under your plants and they'll crawl into it and drown. Refill as needed if it rains or evaporates.

There are also other chemical slug baits available.

[harleysilo]

Originally Posted by Mischka

Place several shallow saucers of cheap beer (don't waste the good stuff on 'em ) under your plants and they'll crawl into it and drown. Refill as needed if it rains or evaporates.

There are also other chemical slug baits available.

I figured it was slug(s) when I saw the one, but sure am surprised at the damage they can do!

The only problem with the beer idea is....



They like beer too!

[honu]

harleysilo, iron phosphate type slug baits, such as Sluggo, work well for me, and are safe to use around pets.
http://www.pestproducts.com/sluggo.htm

[Grub]

The very best remedy for snails and slugs is one part very strong espresso coffee (brewed) to 10 parts water. Do not use instant coffee. Spray about and slugs and snails are history. Have a sip yourself and you might even tidy up the rest of the yard

[harleysilo]

Originally Posted by Grub

The very best remedy for snails and slugs is one part very strong espresso coffee (brewed) to 10 parts water. Do not use instant coffee. Spray about and slugs and snails are history. Have a sip yourself and you might even tidy up the rest of the yard

Coffee? Huh, o.k. I drink coffee ever morning and usually have have a pot left over that I just dump out.....it's fresh ground beans made in a perculator(sp). Would that work? I don't really know the difference between regular coffee and espresso (I mean it's all made from coffee beans) must be strength? Must it be diluted?

[spyfferoni]

My pepper and tomato seedlings have been outside for the past 3 nights. I noticed some insect damage the first couple of nights. Last night some seedlings were completely destroyed. I saw slime and after this thread suspected snails. I found a bunch of them under the trays and on the sides. I was sooo made I crushed all of them with a near by rock. So much for putting my seedlings in a somewhat shady/protected area.

Tyff

[harleysilo]

Well i used coffee and water, probably 25% coffee, sprayed peppers, nine of them. Then went out about 1 hour later and several wilted, so I rinsed them and watered them heavily. We'll see what they look like tomorrow morning or evening. I set out plates with beer.....

[celticman]

Are you serious coffe will get rid of slugs?
I have always used plan old slug baits.
On to a more serious observation with out the picture of the slug my guess would have been flee bettles. They can be troublesome in the spring. Their are several bug killers that will work general on them, one spraying when they are small will solve the proplem. I would limit it to peppers and egg plants generally half strength is enough do not go crazy. The idea is to kept them of your plants for a few week until they are tough enough to live and let nature keep them in check.
Celtic

[harleysilo]

Originally Posted by harleysilo

Well i used coffee and water, probably 25% coffee, sprayed peppers, nine of them. Then went out about 1 hour later and several wilted, so I rinsed them and watered them heavily. We'll see what they look like tomorrow morning or evening. I set out plates with beer.....

They recovered, I guess it's time for either the exact mixture, or slug bait of sorts.

[organichris]

I've heard that an alternative to saucers of beer is saucers of soapy water. I'd bet a good pepper spray would work also. Puree some peppers in water and spray plants. That seems to deter most pests from even messing with them.

[harleysilo]

I ended up purchasing some pet safe slug bait which appear to have worked well.