I have bugs on Basil and Pepper plants. There are lots of little holes on both plants. Could this be slugs? What do I do?
Hardiness Zone: 5a
By Teri Van Hecke from St. Louis, MO
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Get a pesticide to sprinkle on or spray on. I use this stuff called sevin.
If they are little holes, I doubt it's slugs. Probably some type of worm, beetle or even a young caterpillar. There are many natural and cheap home-made solutions to combat them. They all basically have the same theory:
something to repel them - hot peppers, garlic, cloves
something to make it stick - oil, dish soap
(also works to smother them).
Always test on your plants before spraying them. Never spray in the heat of day. If it is a caterpillar, try Bacillus thuringiensis which is safe for humans.
So, if I were to use hot peppers or garlic, would I "cook" them in oil, cool, and spray? Or soak in dish soap? Don't mean to be dense. Thanx
Holy Cow! I would NOT recommend Sevin! Check out the warnings on the product (as always) before you even consider using. Seems a little crazy to be growing good healthy food, but exposing yourself as well as the whole environment to this toxic substance.
I use baby oil, just a few drops and dish soap; just a few drops and mouth wash. That should help, spray early in the morn for a few days. Slugs usually attacks the roots. Slugs killed a pretty zinna bed for me. The plant s got real wilted. I didn't know what it was. Then I dug the bed up and it was infected with slugs. Hope this works for you.
I use sevin on my plants and my dog. If you look on the label it tells you when to use sevin and when not to. I do like the common homemade pesticides too but don't put sevin in a class as dangerous. Just read the label and use as label says.
Raid House and Garden Spray takes care of a lot of bugs inside and out. It must be reapplied after a rain.
Sounds like flea beetles to me. Little black bugs that jump from plant to plant. Try planting your peppers and basil (they like the heat) a little later in the season than you usually do when flea beetles aren't so prevelant in the garden.
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