Identifying the pest in the garden

Defoliated tomato seedling

I didn't go into enough detail as to why I think the critter eating my tomato plants was a bird or a rat.  A reader emailed me yesterday morning suggesting that a tobacco or tomato hornworm might be the culprit.  He is right that they can defoliate a tomato plant seemingly overnight.  It definitely looks like the work of a tobacco hornworm (or a tomato hornworm) with the leaves gone and the stem remaining, but I had ruled them out for a couple of reasons.  The caterpillars themselves are large and you can usually find them pretty easily. I searched very closely and found nothing, not even the frass (poop) that's usually apparent when they are around. More importantly, it's too early in the season for them as they don't show up until midsummer when the plants are much larger.

Other possibilities I considered were deer, rabbits, and box turtles.  However, those are all physically excluded from my garden by a 6 foot wooden privacy fence, two 50 pound active dogs, and then another 4 foot 1"x2" meshed fence that surrounds the garden (to keep the chickens out).  Squirrels would have just dug the seedlings up and they are rarely seen in my yard because we are surrounded by fields.  It's a pretty far run over open ground for a squirrel to get here from the forest.  I've already discussed the cutworm.  I dismissed it because they don't defoliate, they cut off the stem.  Also, I thoroughly sifted through the soil around the plants where it would be hiding during the day and found nothing.

At this garden site, I've personally watched a hispid cotton rat go down a row of freshly sprouted green beans eating every one*.  One of those could easily have slipped through the fences and past my dogs.  A bird of course can just fly in.  If anyone else has any ideas, I'd love to get your insights.  It was pretty frustrating.

*I need to do a post about the usefulness of a good pellet gun around the garden :)

Weekly Gardening Outlook

This will be a continuing series. Each Monday we will look ahead at the coming week in gardening for the Northwest Arkansas area.

HEAT ADVISORY until Thursday evening.  The weathermen are calling for temperatures at or above 100 degrees for the next three days.  During this time check your soil moisture every day and water as necessary.  Water deeply when the soil is dry 3" from the surface.  Depending on the amount of clay and organic matter in your soil, daily watering may be needed. 

Serenade / Blueberry Bush Update:

        

We continue to be impressed by the turn around our blueberry bushes are making after suffering from a pretty serious case of leaf spot.  Serenade is proving to be a very good organic fungicide.  

Things to be on the lookout for:

Insects aren't the only critters that want to eat the fruits of our labor.  This week we will look at how to control some of the larger garden pests.

Moles:  These pests will devour tender plant roots, causing promising young plants to wilt and die for no apparent reason.  If you are using raised beds like we are, putting a simple layer of 1/2" screen on the bottom of the beds during construction will eliminate the problem.  If not, use traps to thin the population.  This will not get rid of all of them, but it will reduce it.

Birds:  Whether it's cardinals chomping on just ripe strawberries or blue jays leaving tomatoes in tatters, these aerial bandits can make gardeners pull their hair out.  The most effective (and most expensive and troublesome) method of protecting your crops from birds is to cover them with bird netting.  Build some sort of a frame to keep the netting off of the plants.  Anchor the netting to the ground and ensure that there aren't any gaps.  Birds are very smart and will find any hole left in this netting.  Another option is hanging ball-shaped Christmas ornaments that are colored like the produce being protected.  An example is hanging red balls on a tomato plant.  They will peck the balls and learn that there isn't anything good to eat here.  Do this 2 weeks before the produce is ripe to give them time to learn.  Finally, and maybe the most fun option, is the motion-activated sprinkler.  Set this up in the garden and it will spray anything that moves.  No animal likes being hosed down and they will seek easier pickings.

Rats and Squirrels:  They will attack a garden from every angle.  From following along a row digging newly sprouted seeds to stealing corn right off of the stalk, they can do it all.  A midsized, active dog around the garden will keep them at bay.  Removing habitat such as brush (rats) or trees (squirrels) around the garden will help.  Trapping will reduce the population.  The motion-activated sprinkler is an option as well.

Rabbits:  A 18" tall fence surrounding the garden will exclude them from your garden.

Cats and Dogs:  Dogs can be excluded with a fence.  Cats are more difficult.  Like with squirrels, keeping a mid-sized, active dog around the perimeter will keep cats away.  If fencing isn't an option, try the motion-activated sprinkler.

Deer:  An 8' tall fence will absolutely keep them out.  A cheaper alternative is a 3 foot high electric fence around the garden.  A few shocks on the nose and they will look for a different food source.  This has worked well for us.  The motion-activated sprinkler may also be an option.

Weather outlook:
-Over 100 early in the week, cooling to the low 90's late in the week with a chance of rain
-Ten day forecast

What's being harvested:
-Green beans

-Peppers (Really loaded down with new peppers)

-Watermelons

-Chard (the kale's taste has gotten too sharp with this hot weather)

-Tomatoes (Picking several pounds a day)
-Cucumbers (Getting several a day)
-Celeriac leaves, basil, mint, and other herbs (all going strong)