Oh no! Is this possible?

[sdambr]

I started my pepper and tomato seeds over the last two weeks, every thing was going great until 2 nights ago.

I woke up to find half of my pepper seedling gone. They had sprouted a week before.
A few of the newly sprouted tomatoes were gone too. Some of the tops were laying next to the stems.

Next night another bunch of seedlings beheaded.

1)I bought new soil mix - Nursery didn't carry promix which have always used in the past so it was Howe Products Professional growers mix. It is the only soil I used.

2) they are inside not exposed to any other plants.

It looks like the job of a cutworm, how is this possible? I ran out and bought BT, sprayed the plants after the first night, did nothing as it (they) feasted again.

Help.. I don't want to lose the rest some of them are my only seeds, and it is getting late to start the peppers, I am in zone 7a New York, and plant out beginning of June.

What can I do before this thing gets to work again tonight?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[sdambr]

If you look closely at the empty cells you can see just the stems of the seedlings.

[henry]

Wonder if it is a mouse?

[sdambr]

I thought that too, but we have never had a mouse and there is no mouse droppings, I searched everywhere. The picture is after the 1st night half of those are gone now too.

[TomNJ]

I had the same problem a few years back and it was indeed a mouse. Put a mouse trap or two next to the seedling trays.

[sdambr]

Mouse trap will go there tonight! I am going to move the trays to a different room. Hopefully salvage the few plants I have left.

[oakley]

I was just going to say move them. Had a mouse last year. Thankfully I grow
dwarf sunflowers and it went after those first. Since then I now put a sunflower
in a corner cell of my trays. Mouse meal. Odd I only caught one tiny mouse.
I expected to catch more but only one found the feast.

Not sure what else could do that type of damage indoors.

[clkeiper]

yep. mouse. I start setting traps as soon as I start seeding flats in the greenhouse. first night I set my traps I caught momma and papa mouse. . thankfully nothing more has tripped the traps but I am just getting ready to set traps baited with peanut butter in the high tunnels. I see holes here and there. I caught 3 or 4 in the little greenhouse at the beginning of winter. one in my house just the other day. it probably came in through the greenhouse that is attached to the house.

[sdambr]

I will replant the tomatoes tonight, the peppers and eggpants too, but not sure if I have enough time for them.
Thanks for the help!

Hopefully the carnage is over.

[Nan_PA_6b]

Sdambr, if you're planting out June 1, you have time to re-sow. Your plants will sprout near April 1 and you'll have 7-8 week old plants to plant out. May be a little tight for the peppers, but the tomatoes will be all right. Give your new pepper seeds heat to get them going quickly.

Nan

[AlittleSalt]

Sue, I am thinking it's a mouse too.

We have 3 young tomcats, hawks, owls, snakes, etc. and still have mice.

[sdambr]

Thanks, you make me feel better. I have been so sad but realize its "just my plants", ...ooh that hurt to say. The varieties that I have no more seeds for... well there's always next year.

[AlittleSalt]

Sue, you still have time to replant and I have a whole lot of seeds to give away. I know others do too - it feels good giving

What varieties would you like?

[clkeiper]

and I just came in from the greenhouse to have found a mouse was in my newly transplanted peppers!GRRR! the traps are baited and set again. all of them. I think I need a million traps!

[sdambr]

Thanks salt, I have seeds for most but a few were from the mmmm swap and planted all I had. For the peppers it would be too late to get the seeds and then replant.

It does feel good giving

Carolyn, I am going to give that mouse a feast tonight! And, say goodbye to him tomorrow!