We go to the garden when life becomes uncertain. There are a lot more people planting gardens with the onset of the Covid-19 virus this year even if they’ve never gardened before. For new gardeners, here are a few pests to watch for this season. 

Slugs strike at night

Slugs – From early in the season, slugs can decimate your newly planted or emerged plants. And since they work at night, they’re hard to catch. The go-to option to discourage these slimy eaters is diatomaceous earth, which is made from ancient, fossilized sea animals. The microscopic edges are so sharp, it tears the soft exterior of the slug discouraging them from sliding through the powder. Diatomaceous earth is not poisonous, actually some people eat the food grade version. But wear a mask when sprinkling it to avoid breathing it in to your lungs. 

Diatomaceous Earth (food grade): Bug killer you can eat!

My sister in law in Europe hasn’t been able to find diatomaceous earth locally, so she is trying the rug trap. Place a piece of old carpet down in the garden, and collect the slugs in the morning. You can also use pieces of wood  or an overturned pot since they are looking for a place to hide. 

Cutworms crashing the party

Cutworms – The next one to watch for are cutworms. You don’t see them during the day, but if your broccoli and other brassicas are tipped over at the base, you probably have them. Since they’re tough to catch, you need to be proactive. Use yogurt container with the bottoms cut off or empty toilet paper tubes to protect each plant. Slide it over the young plant pushing it roughly an inch into the ground. If the cutworm can’t reach the plant, they can’t eat it. Remove them before the plant is too big.

Keep your cabbage looper free

Cabbage loopers – A fan of cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli, cabbage loopers are the green worms that blend in so well to the leaves. While they don’t do a lot of damage, they made a mess. Leaves are often riddled with holes with bits of defecation in the crevices. Not very appetizing! 

New gardeners learn to hunt hornworms

Hornworms – This one often freaks out new gardeners because they are the size of a finger. But never fear, there are plenty of ways to be rid of them. Hornworms typically target tomatoes so if you notice big holes in the leaves or frass,  black droppings on leaves or the ground around the plant, you probably have hornworms. The best time to catch them is at night. Look under the leaves and all over the stems. If you’re not having any like, try spraying the plant with a mild mix of insecticidal soap (not dish detergent) and water. This often makes them move so you can spot them. When you find them, pluck them off and plunk them in a bowl or can of soapy water. Wear gloves, though, because they’ll sometimes squirt a nasty juice as a defense. 

Search for Pests on the Underside of Leaves

Eliminating aphids

Aphids – Aphids are everywhere, but the good news to new gardeners is they are easy to kill. If you see aphids, don’t fret. They typically don’t kill a plant unless there is a heavy infestation, but they can make a mess, particularly if ants join the party. They tend to the aphids to collect the honeydew they secrete. It’s gross, but that’s what they’re doing. Water is one of the best ways to battle aphids. Spritz them with a hose and squish them with your fingers. You can also use an insecticidal soap to spray and kill them if you don’t want to get your fingers in there. 

Don’t panic if you see insects in your garden. Keep in mind that many of these are good bugs that eat the bad ones. (We’ll talk more about these in future posts.) New gardeners need to look out for these common pests, but only treat your plants if you see actual damage. Everything will be fine, and you’ll enjoy fresh vegetables in no time!