Pepper Damage

[Matt_B]

I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on whats damaging my peppers...





... There was a small snail on one of the leaves, could that be the culprit?

The peppers that i'm growing in pots on shelves are all fine, the affected plant is growing in the greenhouse boarder

Matt

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Matt, slugs and snails are pests but are the tell tale slimey white trails there?? Field mice will also gnaw through the flesh to get to the seeds.

[Matt_B]

Originally Posted by Lesley Jay

Hi Matt, slugs and snails are pests but are the tell tale slimey white trails there?? Field mice will also gnaw through the flesh to get to the seeds.

Theres no slime trails on the peppers, the only visable trails are on the lower leaves

Until yesterday I was keeping my bird seed in the shed behind the greenhouse, whilst topping my feeders up the seed was pouring out of a hole in the bottom of the bag so maybe your right with saying mice

That will be interesting trying to stop

[claw_uk]

Try standing the pots in a large tray and dusting the tray with flour. You may then catch some foot prints so you can ID your pest. They may also then leave a trail so you can see how they are getting in and out and from where so you can set a trap for them. If you don’t want to kill them, there are a number of humane traps on the market that catch them alive, but you then have to find somewhere miles away to release them or they will just come back!

[Lesley Jay]

Originally Posted by Matt_B

Theres no slime trails on the peppers, the only visable trails are on the lower leaves

Until yesterday I was keeping my bird seed in the shed behind the greenhouse, whilst topping my feeders up the seed was pouring out of a hole in the bottom of the bag so maybe your right with saying mice

That will be interesting trying to stop

Hi Matt, I reckon that you are spot on. When we had two aviaries full of birds we had to keep all the seeds in big plastic drums with snap on lids because of field mice. Fine wire mesh to cover your plants should help and I would empty your shed to give it a good brush out which should disturb them.

[Matt_B]

Originally Posted by claw_uk

Try standing the pots in a large tray and dusting the tray with flour. You may then catch some foot prints so you can ID your pest. They may also then leave a trail so you can see how they are getting in and out and from where so you can set a trap for them. If you don’t want to kill them, there are a number of humane traps on the market that catch them alive, but you then have to find somewhere miles away to release them or they will just come back!

Hi Claw, the greenhouse is sitting on two courses of bricks and in one corner there is a hole so guessing the rodent is getting in there, and funnily enough thats where the peppers are

I'm not against killing vermin that chooses to live in my house, but as it's the greenhouse?? Hmmmmm?

Originally Posted by Lesley Jay

Hi Matt, I reckon that you are spot on. When we had two aviaries full of birds we had to keep all the seeds in big plastic drums with snap on lids because of field mice. Fine wire mesh to cover your plants should help and I would empty your shed to give it a good brush out which should disturb them.

Thanks for the advice Lesley

It's about time I cleared the shed so looks like i've got another job on the weekend, I think more importantly I need to have a word with my jack russell and find out whats going on??

Matt

[Lesley Jay]

Originally Posted by Matt_B

there is a hole so guessing the rodent is getting in there.

I'm not against killing vermin that chooses to live in my house, but as it's the greenhouse?? Hmmmmm?

It's about time I cleared the shed so looks like i've got another job on the weekend, I think more importantly I need to have a word with my jack russell and find out whats going on??

Matt

Hi Matt, I think that you will find that there is more than one 'rodent' and they have probably taken up residence in your shed where there was a good food source. Don't forget though that they are only field mice - they have to live somewhere.

[plot 7]

I get this sort of damage too and am pretty certain it is caused by slugs, but also the skin on my peppers and chilli peppers turns partially black. Any ideas on why this happens and are the fruit still edible. Inside they appear to be OK

[Hollie the Wollie]

That sounds very similar to the damage I've had on my tomatoes. Ive just raised a thread. with some pics.

[stars1891]

hi i have the same problem as matt at the start of this thread, only mine is in a sealed (maybe) room. they are being grown in hydroponics and under sodium lighting. any help would be lovley. thanx Stars