Marigolds: Earwigs and Slugs

[danwigz]

Okay,

My mother always planted marigolds near her tomato plants; and so I have continued the tradition. I had thought this was to keep away certain pests... however, if you note the time stamp on this post (Its 1:00am my time) I've just returned from work, and had to inspect my garden before I could go to bed...

Earlier today I noticed that earwigs had taken residence in my dead marigold flowers, of which I had been planning on saving seed from. I tried to remove all the 'dead heads' I could while crushing the earwigs. My evening jaunt however has revealed a new world of earwig existence, one in which they cavort all over my marigolds, and surprise, surprise, slugs are joining them in a rather large way. One plant alone had at least 4 slugs and who knows how many earwigs. Almost every single marigold has a slug or two, or more, and every one had visible earwigs.

I'm obviously going to be pulling my marigolds (and possibly replant them far from my garden), unfortunately some are close to my tomato plants, so some I might just cut at the base so not to disturb my roots.

So here comes the question bit... when should I pull the marigolds? Should I do it at night, when the things are visible on the plants killing as I go along? Or should I do it during the day, and hope the pests are resting in the plant somewhere? I'm concerned if I move them during the day and the slugs aren't there, they might return to find their marigolds gone and attack my tomato plants instead. I'm probably going to need something to fight of slugs before I start this just in case.

Anyway, other suggestions, comments, etc welcome. Maybe my marigolds are keeping my plants slug free lol; but I'd rather not have any slugs around my plants.

Danwigz

[b54red]

I don't know if it is possible to get rid of slugs in a garden that contains a lot of organic mater. I've tried beer traps, baits and all manner of concoction with little results. I have never had a problem with them bothering my tomato plants at least not bad enough to notice; but they do love crawling up into cabbage plants when the weather gets hot and dry. If you pull the marigolds that the slugs seem to prefer they will go elsewhere to feed so if it was me I would leave them since they aren't hurting anything. I can tell you one thing, for every one you see there are many more you don't see.

[beeman]

Originally Posted by danwigz

Anyway, other suggestions, comments, etc welcome. Maybe my marigolds are keeping my plants slug free lol; but I'd rather not have any slugs around my plants.Danwigz

I believe the idea of marigolds is a nematode prevention. Earwigs and slugs need different treatment.
Slugs like beer, (sounds like a lot of us,) so a dish of beer placed close will allow them to drown themselves, or Diatomous (sp?) earth.
Earwigs. To prevent them biting plants, spray with a weak soft soap solution (Ivory) or again DE. My grandmother used an upturned flower pot stuffed with newspaper, hang it over a piece of cane, then drop the whole thing in a bucket of soapy water after a couple of days.

[danwigz]

I think I probably over reacted due to a long work day, and seeing so many earwigs and slugs shocked me.

Going to set some beer traps, and leave it at that.

Danwigz

[MrC]

The earwigs have been pretty crazy in my neck of the woods this year too for some reason. That upturned pot trick is a neat idea, I'm sure that would catch a lot of them, seems like everytime I pickup something that has been resting on the ground for a day or two a whole bunch of those buggers run out!

[dice]

Some site that I read years ago recommended little bowls
of vegetable oil sitting around for earwig traps. Maybe put one
under an upturned pot at soil level?

[mjc]

Earwig control...thermonuclear device.

Short of that, they will win.

Yes, leaving the marigolds as 'trap plants' is a much better idea than removing them...as was mentioned, without the desirable marigolds, the slugs and earwigs WILL move on to other plants to hold their nightly bacchanalia. You can go out with a bucket of hot soapy water and knock the gathered masses into it to help reduce the over all population.

[b54red]

I was told years ago that earwigs love feeding on earthworms. Don't know if it is true but was told by a man who raised wigglers for fish bait and he hated the smelly little buggers. I've had them off an on for many years. Never tried to control them because I didn't see any damage to my plants from them. One year they'll be fairly common and the next I will hardly see any.

[danwigz]

Just a quick update,

After seeing the huge infestation, I've seen only a few earwigs. It seems they must have realized I was going to attack the next time I saw them.

I put out some beer and have trapped most of the slugs, so after all, the marigolds are doing better and the Tomatoes probably got less damage because of them.

Dwigz

[dustdevil]

Years ago, gardeners used marigolds to repel rabbits that were eating the garden.

[duckfan]

Earwigs seem to be cyclical at my house. One year I'm inundated with them. then for the next few, I hardly see them at all. This is one of my inundation years. The little buggers are everywhere. It's been too hot and dry for slugs.

[DonnaMarieNJ]

I've been finding earwigs IN my tomatoes. Last week I had several maters ripening on my kitchen table for maybe three days. Yesterday, I decided to slice them for dinner. Imagine my surprise (and disgust) when after two slices, an earwig races out of my tomato and starts scrambling around my dinner plate!

It turned my stomach and I couldn't eat the tomato because I knew it had been inside that tomato for at least three days. Who knew what it was doing in there? Laying eggs? Doing something even more gross?

It happened today at work as well. TG I was alone in the office kitchen!

Should I be scared to eat a tomato that had an earwig in it? The THOUGHT of it makes me cringe. The sad thing, too, is that now I'm sort of afraid every time I cut a tomato. Sometimes the hole is so small, and the mater is almost perfect looking - it catches me by surprise.

Should I do the beer in the dish thing? Something else?

Thanks! (Not trying to hijack your thread......)

[Mommah]

BIRDS.. I do everything I can to entice the birds into my yard..food, water and shelter..they in turn help me with creepy crawler patrol.

While I have never found earwigs in my tomatoes, I have found those green worms/caterpillars in my broccoli...poo yuck ...I know how you feel..turns your stomach and ruins your appetite as well as your good mood.