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22-05-2006, 02:18 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

wrote:
Cat(h) wrote:
I planted brussels sprout seedlings acquired from the local garden
centre about 3 weeks ago. They are taking well to the garden, and I
have sprinkled the immediate surroundings with environmentally friendly
anti slug pellets. However, the leaves of two of the seedlings have
been nibbled to the central rib - yet I cannot see any likely guilty
party - caterpillar or other.
What could be eating my sprouts, and what can I do to stop it?

Birds like Brassicas apparently but I have not grown any in ages so
cannot comment specifically. I have been watching starlings grab
handfuls of foliage from me herb garden and fly off with them (nesting
material??; lumps of sage and oregano!!). Pigeons are supposed to eat
cabbage leaves.

They're only small seedlings, wouldn't a pigeon or a picking starling
simply pluck them out of the ground rather than neatly eat the leaves
to the ribs ?

With all the recent rain, our garden is awash with slugs and snails.
The rain washed away the alu sulphate granules and stops it working.
Nightly visits with torch is all I can do now. I grab them and fling
them to the jungle side of the garden; handfuls at a time it seems.

I have maintained the slug pellets, though you may be right that after
all the rain of the last week, the active element may have washed off.
I reapplied on Saturday - though that was before yesterday;s downpour,
so I will have to do it again soon...

Could still be a rogue slug; or sluggish rogue (ho ho ho).

But maybe it's a really clever caterpillar that comes, eats, and then
legs it real quick when he sees me approaching... The damage done
looks like it was made by a small "mouth" if you see what I mean.

Cat(h)

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