Cauliflower seedlings under attack. (Update: Revenge!)

[journey11]

Something is getting my little cauliflower plants at night. I think it must be some kind of bug. They chew them off at the base of the stem, just like they've been cut off, except they hang by a thread. Anybody know what I can do to prevent this? I have 64 broccoli/cabbage/cauliflower planted the other day--but I don't have that many empty soup cans!

 

[wifezilla]

Sounds like cut worms. TIme to break out the tin foil?

" Place foil or paper wraps or cardboard collars around transplants; extend a few inches into the soil and several inches up the stem."
http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/cutworms.html

 

[Greenthumb18]

Yes i agree with wifezilla, you most likely have a problem with cutworms. A collar around the plants should keep the cutworms away from the plants.

Good Luck!

 

[desertgirl]

Mine don't have any signs of this. but better safe than sorry. Just make a little collar around the stem? How big?

 

[journey11]

Today I got out took a close look at my seedlings. We've had a lot of rain this week and finally things dried up enough so I could get out to put the collars on.

For each seedling that had been cut down or shown leaves clipped off, I cultivated lightly around it with a trowel and right up close to the stem within the first inch of soil I found the culprits and squashed 4 of them!

I will know to keep an eye on my tomato seedlings this year as well. I've never had cutworms before, but last year I was guilty of letting a couple patches of grass and weeds go at the end of the garden, which I now know the moths like to lay their eggs there. <---we need a butt kicking emoticon, I think! I lost four seedlings altogether, but fortunately I have some extras that I ran out of room for.

I've never had so much fun squashing a bug. Revenge is sweet! LOL