Holes and beginnings of holes???

[Halfway]

Hi folks. Noticed these holes this morning. The plants are in containers and I see no visible bugs or slugs/snails.

I notice that some are clear "holes" while others are almost see-through as they are not cut fully through.

These plants were started indoors and all their counterparts are very healthy.

Help would be appreciated!!

Thank you!

[url=https://img704.imageshack.us/I/1000459b.jpg/][img]https://img704.imageshack.us/img704/2930/1000459b.th.jpg[/img][/url]

[url=https://img185.imageshack.us/I/1000460.jpg/][img]https://img185.imageshack.us/img185/6361/1000460.th.jpg[/img][/url]

Uploaded with [url=https://imageshack.us]ImageShack.us[/url]

[Halfway]

Another search and still no bugs.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

[SOB]

The yellow spots make me think nitrogen deficiency. I see you have some mulch on the top of the containers. This can actually strip nitrogen out of the soil as the mulch breaks down. Have you fertilized lately?

[Halfway]

SOB, thanks for the reply.

It is in MG potting soil and I am also using fish emulsion every third watering The rest of the plants are doing great with the same treatment/soil/fert....just those holes in the one in the photo.

I'll keep an eye on the coloring as well.

Thanks!

[cynthia_h]

Although you haven't seen slugs or snails, those look *exactly* like slug/snail damage. Maybe lay traps for them: upside-down flower pots, boards with some space under them. Look late at night or early in the morning, depending on your personal preference.

I've found them under the lip of large containers, too, and under the large leaves of chard, spinach, and the like, waiting for dark, and the chance to munch on my plants again.

Trowel + flashlight = snail/slug hunting gear.

Cynthia H.

"living" with post-op doggie Vergil...TPLO right knee 5/26, he's in a crate for at least four weeks and must be helped/escorted outside for everything, each time...

[Halfway]

Thank you cynthia. I'm now on the snail "search" for remedies.

[Halfway]

SNAILS!!!!!!

Not on the plants, but after the storm last night I found dozens of snails seeking shelter under a small overhang,

Are they as damaging as slugs and if so, can the same treatment be used?

I do enjoy the crunch in treating them the knuckle-dragger way.

[Halfway]

Well, I thought it was snails but had never actually caught them on the plants.

Well tonight I found the culprit!!

A 1 inch long by 1/8 inch green worm was adding a hole to another leaf and looks to have just finished eating another leaf in it's entirety.

Pulled and squished him and found no others.

So, looking for what it is and the subsequent preventative.

Suggestions anyone?

[Halfway]

Is this a hornworm? I don't see the "eyes" on the sides, but the shape of the head looks like.

Plucked 7 from 2 tomato plants in containers. They were doing a number on the leaves!!!!

[url=https://img94.imageshack.us/I/1000462s.jpg/][img]https://img94.imageshack.us/img94/5152/1000462s.jpg[/img][/url]

Uploaded with [url=https://imageshack.us]ImageShack.us[/url]

[engineeredgarden]

No, that's not a hornworm...It looks like a tomato fruit worm or corn earworm to me.

EG

[Halfway]

Thanks EG. I'm still gathering info. I notice it acts like an inchworm when touched either using only front legs or hind legs as opposed to a caterpiller's smooth motion.

The head looked like a hornworm. But nothing else really did. No spots, no "v" lines.

Bright green when squished though, LOL!!!

[Halfway]

On further research, a couple things stand out.

Tomato fruit worm generally attack the fruit. I have no fruit getting attacked, only the leaves. But will continue to monitor. It does match the description. I see no evidence of eggs.

Cabbage looper. It also matches the description and matches the diet of foliage as opposed to fruit.

This is my first year, so this is fascinating at this point. I'm sure it will quickly turn into frustration soon enough.

I would like to stay checmical free, so please chime in with organic remedies if you have had experience with either of these.

Thanks in advance!!