I have something eating my Pak Choy. Chewing holes in the leaves, and in some cases eating back out to the edges. It’s not eating my silverbeet – right next door, touching leaves in some cases. I checked all over the plants but couldn’t see any beasties. Any ideas?

And aside from checking the plants regularly, any suggestions for treatment. We’re leaving Monday, and I’ll be away for a month. Can’t expect The Man to work, look after himself (ie visit 6 people every night), AND catch bugs by hand ;)

SueBk said:

I have something eating my Pak Choy. Chewing holes in the leaves, and in some cases eating back out to the edges. It’s not eating my silverbeet – right next door, touching leaves in some cases. I checked all over the plants but couldn’t see any beasties. Any ideas?

And aside from checking the plants regularly, any suggestions for treatment. We’re leaving Monday, and I’ll be away for a month. Can’t expect The Man to work, look after himself (ie visit 6 people every night), AND catch bugs by hand ;)

Hmm – if you’ve got a dry spell coming up you could spray some Dipel in case it is caterpillars – but in my personal case, I can’t walk 2m in the yard without seeing caterpillars, so maybe they’re not likely if you can’t see any.

I saw a fluffy brow colour hairy cat-a-p-hilla today out the front:(

Washed out a pile of baby slugs out of a oak lettuce I picked today……..

there’s a lettuce/cabbage caterpillar that eats out from the heart of the lettuce/cabbage. never had them myself. supposed to attack mainly moisture stressed heads but, who knows, or it could even be a stray lonesome bug looking for lunch. in any case, the usual TB based spray is safe and kills them however, an already well damaged vegie should just be removed. The TB based sprays have residual action for a week or two, if not washed off by rain….so helps to kill any newly hatched caterpillars.

Yes it’s probably caterpillars, lime green in colour and really hard to find in the leaves. Best defence i’ve found is netting the plants but if they’re in then it’s too late for that. If you get down and dirty you may pick enough off to keep the crop OK. Do it regularly. A few holes in the leaves isn’t a problem, as long as the plants aren’t decimated. Also make a regular, smaller planting, so you can grow them quickly and get them out.
My winter Pak choy has seeded recently and i have a gazillion seeds. Just been spreading them around as i want them to grow as a weed, same with loose leafed lettuces. A better class of weed:-)