what critter is eating my basil and petunias??

[grasswire]

My basil plants are pretty much turned into lace. Petunias have holes in the blossoms. Something is eating them. It isn't slugs.

Any ideas?

TIA

[CrispyQ]

1. Earwigs have feasted on my basil this year.

I've had issues with them in the past at the first of the season, but they have persisted this year.

[grasswire]

2. thanks for the clue

I suppose there's no stopping them.

[beac]

3. Try garlic spray.

I've used Mosquito Barrier (they also make a less-strong version called Garlic Barrier, but I prefer the MB) with great success. The pests taste the garlic and leave your plants alone but it doesn't impact the taste for humans (assuming you are eating the basil but NOT the petunias ).


http://www.mosquitobarrier.com/

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. Japanese Beetles can do a number on basil as well, but they are obvious....

[grasswire]

5. well I have given up on them for the year...

....and will have to get my basil at farmers market. Grrr!

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. too bad you weren't my neighbor - I have more than I know what to do with!

the deer found pretty much everything else in one of our gardens...but not the basil!

[grasswire]

7. that's interesting

By the way, I have two tomato varieties that I haven't tasted yet. Somthing called "Stupice" and another called "Legend".

Can you predict the flavor for me? If they aren't full-flavored, I will probably use them as green maters. Of course, the sungold spoils us all, for flavor.

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. well, they are tomatoes - home grown ones - so that is a good thing!

Stupice is a good early variety while waiting for the big ones. I've not grown Legend, but from reading about it, sounds reasonably good.

I am pretty spoiled by some of the big time large ones this year - we had a short crop, lots of disease, but those we did pick had pretty spectacular flavor....alas, all gone!

[grasswire]

9. mine are just coming on

a few red ones, some ripe sungolds, and lots of greens.