Cutworms!

b54red · April 22, 2015

Toothpicks. So cheap and so effective. Why go to the time, trouble, or expense of using something else.

Carolyn is right about thick sturdy plants being less susceptible. The longer they are hardened off the thicker and tougher the main stem will be. Still down here they are still vulnerable for a while just not as much. My friend lost his only yellow bell pepper 4 days after setting it out with a collar and the plant was very thick, very well hardened off, a foot tall and blooming. He finally went and got some toothpicks before planting his next bed of tomatoes and peppers. I also lost some pretty large plants before I started using the toothpicks.

When I set out young tender seedlings I will sometimes even put three or more toothpicks around them just to be sure since they are so vulnerable.

Bill

April 22, 2015	#17
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Toothpicks. So cheap and so effective. Why go to the time, trouble, or expense of using something else. Carolyn is right about thick sturdy plants being less susceptible. The longer they are hardened off the thicker and tougher the main stem will be. Still down here they are still vulnerable for a while just not as much. My friend lost his only yellow bell pepper 4 days after setting it out with a collar and the plant was very thick, very well hardened off, a foot tall and blooming. He finally went and got some toothpicks before planting his next bed of tomatoes and peppers. I also lost some pretty large plants before I started using the toothpicks. When I set out young tender seedlings I will sometimes even put three or more toothpicks around them just to be sure since they are so vulnerable. Bill