something ate my zucchini in 5 hours!

[debbieporter]

I have a brand new garden that my husband just terraced in a hillside and filled with soil and mulch. Planted a golden zucchini at 2pm and when I went out to check it at 7pm, something had eaten half the leaves completely away! Not that they had holes in them like lace....they were gone without a trace. I'm a new gardener....what would do that???

[applestar]

GroundHOG? Deer? Any tracks?

[debbieporter]

I did not see any tracks. This was a starter plant that I had just put out. It was only 4 inches tall and had 2 leaves. Whatever did it was small. We have a fence around the yard but a groundhog could get in. I've never seen one in the neighborhood though. Would a mouse do something like this? What would you do about it? I covered the plant and am afraid if I uncover it, it will be gone.

[rkunsaw]

Rabbit?

[mscratch]

well this may be off the wall but I am having a severe infestation of baby grasshoppers eating up everything that is green this year! and way early for them at that!