Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Markjp on July 27, 2009, 21:15

Title: Somethings Making Holes In My Peppers
Post by: Markjp on July 27, 2009, 21:15
I have just noticed that some of my Chilli and Sweet Peppers which are in the greenhouse have small round holes in them. Something appears to be eating into them, but there is no trace of any pest.

Does anybody have any idea what is might be?
Title: Re: Somethings Making Holes In My Peppers
Post by: Lee G on July 27, 2009, 21:19
Do you mean the leaves or the fruit?  The leaves on mine are also being eaten, and I did find a tiny green caterpillar the other day, squished it but there must be others as there seems to be more today.  I've also speyed with soapy water, hoping this helps.
Title: Re: Somethings Making Holes In My Peppers
Post by: Markjp on July 27, 2009, 21:33
The holes are in the fruit.
Title: Re: Somethings Making Holes In My Peppers
Post by: Elcie on July 27, 2009, 21:42
I have the same markjp and I just assumed it was the pesky slugs.  Mind you, I don't think they like it as they haven't been back!
Title: Re: Somethings Making Holes In My Peppers
Post by: maxie on July 27, 2009, 21:51
I had this one year and still havent a clue what caused it so id be keen to find out as well.
Title: Re: Somethings Making Holes In My Peppers
Post by: strangerachael on July 27, 2009, 22:26
I have also found tiny green caterpillars making holes in the leaves, but so far not in the fruit. I am keeping a very close eye though because last year the peppers got eaten by snails and the year before I had an infestation of tiny green caterpillars which attacked practically everything in the garden and greenhouse, wrapping themselves in webs rolled up in leaves so you couldn't even spray the little blighters. I found some inside some of the peppers, along with a pile of caterpillar poo and in one, a small, brown dead moth.
I think the tiny caterpillars I am finding this year are something different though, fingers crossed.
Title: Re: Somethings Making Holes In My Peppers
Post by: Lardman on July 27, 2009, 22:47
Theres a maggot that eats them... Is there anything in the actual pod ?

Have a google for pepper maggot, most of the info related to the US though.
Title: Re: Somethings Making Holes In My Peppers
Post by: peapod on July 27, 2009, 23:28
My leaves are being eaten but they are still flowering and fruiting
They look like sawfly caterpillars to me, so I just squish em
Title: Re: Somethings Making Holes In My Peppers
Post by: John Wilkinson on July 28, 2009, 09:32
I have the same problem with small green caterpillars. They have just about chomped into everything in the garden including my beetroot leaves, Chard and even the sunflowers. >:( I have just ditched the chard as it looks like lace and I'm going to pull the rest of the beetroot. So far, the runner and borlotti beans are pretty much unscathed apart from the usual aphid infestation that I have kept under control with spraying soapy water.

What are they? I was under the impression that apart from slugs, Chard was bomb proof in the garden. I have seen a number of Butterflies around the garden but I thought Brassicas would be the only veg that would be affected.

J.
Title: Re: Somethings Making Holes In My Peppers
Post by: Markjp on July 28, 2009, 20:16
Here's a picture of a hole in one of my peppers.

There very little leave damage and so far I have found no trace of any pest on the plant.
Title: Re: Somethings Making Holes In My Peppers
Post by: Ice on July 28, 2009, 20:23
Have you cut one open and had a look?
Title: Re: Somethings Making Holes In My Peppers
Post by: Markjp on July 28, 2009, 21:06
No not yet.
Title: Re: Somethings Making Holes In My Peppers
Post by: mumofstig on July 28, 2009, 22:04
I had one like that and it was just grey and slimey inside.....no creatures or eggs YUK
Title: Re: Somethings Making Holes In My Peppers
Post by: Markjp on July 29, 2009, 21:01
Disected a pepper tonight and looked very carefully but there was no sign of anything inside the pepper. Apart form the hole the rest of the pepper looked very healthy. :unsure:
Title: Re: Somethings Making Holes In My Peppers
Post by: titch on July 29, 2009, 21:32
found the fat beastie that's been nibbling ours tonight..................... he is no more  :nowink:
Title: Re: Somethings Making Holes In My Peppers
Post by: sunshineband on July 29, 2009, 21:55
Disected a pepper tonight and looked very carefully but there was no sign of anything inside the pepper. Apart form the hole the rest of the pepper looked very healthy. :unsure:

Is it where a drop of water has caused scorch? If you've had any sun of course  :lol: :lol: