[dawnj]

typical... hardening my veg, just brought them in and the liitle beasties have put little holes in the lower leaves of the plant, they are under netting whats going on?? good start!

[mumofstig]

If they're little tiny holes it means you have flea beetle

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0402/flea_beetle.asp

were they standing on soil cos thats where they are. The next good downpour will put paid to a lot of them for you.
If it's any consolation my garden was riddled with holes last year and apart from squirting with the hose (when it wasn't raining ) i did nothing about them and still got good crops...the plants seem to grow ok in the end

[dawnj]

yes they were on soil.... what will happen on the next downpour??

[mumofstig]

It drowns most of the beetles..if you're lucky

[dawnj]

I wish for rain then....

[Salmo]

Keep them well watered and they should grow away from the damage. If you want to see them just creep up carefully and touch a plant with a stick. They jump off like fleas, hence the name.

[Paul Plots]

My father always sprinkled a small dusting of lime over the plants as they began to grow - seemed to discourage flee beatle and not damage the plants...

Not sure I'd recommend it though..... Anyone else heard of this as a successful treatment?

[Sharonx]

This must be what has happened to my Rocket seedlings. They are in a planter with compost though, not in soil, but sounds exactly the same damage otherwise. I did see a tiny black beetle thing yesterday when I brushed over the seedlings

[dawnj]

is it advisable to but them back on the soil today or put them on the path??

[compostqueen]

folks dust them with Derris, if they can get hold of any that is 

[mumofstig]

I'd put them on the path if i were you, may stop you getting any more

[dawnj]

they are on a table outside with netting over but (theres always a but) they'll be going in the ground next week so how do i cope with the little beasties then?

[Bombers]

As said above, keep them well watered, they should grow away. Oh. Don't forget to net as well!

[dawnj]

thanks Bombers I will do that it's a very scary business growing veg don't want anything to go wrong!!

[Bombers]

thanks Bombers I will do that it's a very scary business growing veg don't want anything to go wrong!!

Sadly, it usually does go wrong somewhere along the line , but that's all in the learning process I'm afraid.