[annied]

Hi
looking for some sprout help. Its our first year attempting to grow sprouts, and having bought some plants we put them in last week. Unfortunately something is eating them. We have lost 2 already. I'm guessing slugs/snails or caterpillar. Is there something we should be aware of of that we can do something about??. Have reluctantly tried putting slug pellets down.
Anyone have any thoughts or experience
thanks

[DD.]

Are they netted?

Birds will have them quicker than slugs or snails.

[Nikkithefoot]

First thing is have a look underneath the leaves, you may well find that caterpillars are the culprits. if so rub them and the eggs off (little yellow dots in clusters) and cover with fine netting to stop the butterflies laying more eggs.

If no sign of caterpillars it could be birds pecking at the leaves, again covering is the only way to stop them.

If falling over from the bottom, ie looks like nibbled stems then it might be slugs, and finally if not a lot of sign of anything but wilting looking plants then might be cabbage root fly.

Mine get covered from the moment they get put outside to prevent critturs from munching them.

[annied]

sorry should have said that they have net over them. The ones that have disintegrated have been eaten down to nothing and he others have holes of various sizes in the leaves

[Nikkithefoot]

What size holes are in the net, if bigger than 7mm it could still be caterpillars as butterflies can get through this size, also is the net touching the leaves?

[bazial]

Hi
   You say various size holes ,it mite be Flea Beetle,They are black about 2mm (1/8 ins) in lenght and when you brush the plant they jump off the plant .If it is flea beetle try spraying them with insecticide soap .

[annied]

Thanks for all your replies. I have noticed tiny white flies when I knock the plants. Are we talking cabbage white fly here??

[DD.]

We're talking just plain old whitefly!

[annied]

so I take it they aren't the evil little devils putting holes in my sprouts then, or eating them down to the vein

[DD.]

No, they'll make a gungy mess. They secrete "honeydew" on which a horrible black fungusy/mold will grow.

[annied]

Thanks guys and gals. Having seen another thread elsewhere I'm beginning to wonder if it is pigeon damage 

[JohnB47]

Thanks guys and gals. Having seen another thread elsewhere I'm beginning to wonder if it is pigeon damage  

So if they're netted and you still think it's pigeon damage, presumably the net is floppy? If so the pigeons will just walk all over it and peck at the leaves through the holes. The netting needs to be fairly taught and held away from the plant leaves (i.e. over some sort of frame, not just laid over them).

Edited to correct spelling of "pigeon" for forum search purposes.