What Is Eating My Vegetable Garden?

[beautiful_n_sassy]

this is my second year of gardening. Last year our garden did WONDERFUL this year our jalepeno plant and most of our tomato plants died(or were killed) I first noticed it because our tomato plants were laying on ground and the stalk had been chewed down to nothing then a few days later our jalepeno plant was laying on the ground too. Every time I go to check the garden it seems there is a VERY LARGE amount of rollie pollies...could they be the culprits? please some one help me

[505zoom]

Those little guys went to town on my strawberries and a few other plants last year. In large numbers, yes they can easily take out a plant like that.

[opabinia51]

We had that nomenclature before (Rolly Pollies) but, I forget which insect this refers to. Is it caterpillars? If so, yes they could be the culprit.

I always advise people to look at the beneficial insect sticky in the organic forum to see what plants they use to attract various beneficial insects. For caterpillars (though, you'll have to respark my knowledge on the nomenclature) Parasits wasps are good to attract, birds are always great, I think damsel flies would help and that's all that comes to mind at this time.

Oops, I was wrong it's in the Permaculture Forum. We've been refining our forums over the past few months thanks to some great suggestions from some of our members so, I forget where Rog and I have moved things


Anyway, here is the link: https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=335

Also look up companion planting on the web

[webmaster]

My mother in law rocks. She has bird feeders, bird baths, humming bird feeders out in force. Encouraging the wildlife to hang out in her yard and eat the snails, slugs, aphids, and everything else. Keeping it all in balance. She works hard to get the wildlife into her yard and it pays off.

[wolfie]

Opa, rolly pollies are potato bugs, not caterpillars

If I put a bird bath in my yard, does it need to be near the garden or will anywhere work?

I thought people used scare crows to keep birds away?

Which is it, birds good or birds bad? LOL

[Charlie MV]

We keep many bird baths and feeders all over the yard. I haven't had any problems with birds in the garden.

[cynthia_h]

Which is it, birds good or birds bad? LOL

It depends (from the point of view of a gardener) on whether said bird is an insect-eater or a seed-eater! Personally, I prefer the insect eaters...scarecrows etc. are desirable to scare away (ha ha) seed-eating birds who would take our planted seed from the ground.

So birds can be good OR bad...kind of like people, when we aren't being both at the same time!

Cynthia H.
USDA Zone 9, Sunset Zone 17