Something is eating my brocolli

Posted by Michele on November 6, 2011 at 5:49pm

I have/had some nice healthy brocolli plants, but in the past two days the once healthy leaves are now drooping and have small holes throughout them.  I have sprinkled diatamaceous earth around the plants and I don't see any bug life going on.  What horrible little creature is attacking them? Any ideas anyone?

 

As always thank you so much for all your help.

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Replies

  • Michele November 8, 2011 at 6:30am
    My plants are a pretty good size now 12-18in in height and circumference, they've been in since early Oct.  I do have some horrible black cape wearing sinister birds that swoop in and menace my plants. The trouble is I work and I don't get to see who the culprits are. I like the ckicken wire hat idea, but I think the plants are too big now. Lately I haven't even been home in the daylight to see what additional damage has been wrought. I will be home before dark today, so I will get a chance to see what new and terrible destruction has been wrought!  Ahhh... work, the bane of my exsistance.
  • Angie Chandler November 7, 2011 at 11:52am
    As odd as this will sound, we have had Sparrows sit on the ground or leaf & eat the leafs.  Apparently they are sweet.  We have personally witnessed 3 Sparrows on 1 leaf eating the leaf above kind of bouncing.  Looked like they were having fun. Fly catchers have done this, too.  I don't know if this would be a possibility for you situation or not.  I know it sounds crazy- somewhere I have pictures of these yahoos committing vandalism on my broccoli plants.
    • Liz & Dan > Angie Chandler November 7, 2011 at 4:59pm
      Not crazy at all, I've seen all kinds of birds come in and decimate my greens.  The smaller birds were leaving peck marks that were holes and the first time I saw them I thought of caterpiller damage.  But careful observation and a closer inspection indicated sparrows...  The link Catherine posted is great - it covers the spectrum of damage and what it could be.  Again, careful observation is key.
    • Catherine, The Herb Lady > Angie Chandler November 7, 2011 at 4:12pm
      Angie, many birds will enjoy a "salad" with their seed snack :-)  Usually it looks like a tear instead of a hole as Michele describes.  We do enjoy the birds - sometimes I got out and shoo them away if they are doing too much damage, or I put a chicken wire hat on young plants to make them invisible until they get going good.
  • Catherine, The Herb Lady November 7, 2011 at 4:57am

    Probably flea beetles, I'm guessing.

     

    Here is an earlier post on the same problem.  Good luck - always frustrating to loose plants you are looking forward to.

     

    http://www.phoenixpermaculture.org/forum/topics/seedlings-eaten?com...

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