A few weeks ago, I planted some cucumbers along the fence in my front yard,
where lawn used to be but where it is mainly weeds. I am not even bothering
with grass this year; I have most of the lawn planted in corn, with vining
things along the fence.

So I just dug into the soil a little, didn't till anything, let all the old
leaves and stuff stay there, and planted my cucumbers. A few days alter, I
saw a few little sprouts coming up.

A week later, I saw no sprouts. On close examination, I found several
little stems. I guess bugs must have eaten them. The grass along the
fence, though clipped close or pulled, still is messy, and I suppose it
houses many bugs.

So today I tried something new. I bought some disposable cups, and cut the
bottom off of them so they made a cuff about two inches tall. Put one cuff
under each of the drip-holes in my hose. Filled each cuff with some wet
potting soil, and planted the cucumber seeds in them.

I figure that this way, they will be up off the ground a little, protected
by the cup. The roots will go down into the yard soil, and when the sprouts
are sufficiently high I can remove the cups and just let them grow on their
little soil mound.

Has anyone ever tried this, and if so, will it work? Should I put a little
smear of Vaseline around the outside of each cup to further discourage bugs?
--S.

"Charlie" wrote in message
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Could it be cutworms? When you find a cut off plant, start scratching
around in the soil, working out from the stem and see if you find one
of these little bastids...

I have never seen these, but I don't suppose that means they aren't there.
I am guessing it's earwigs, though--they are ALL OVER the place.

The collar should protect seedlings.

Welp, that's what I wanted to know! Thanks. Hopefully you are right.
--S.