JoynersHotPeppers 2013 GLOG

theghostpepperstore · Jun 3, 2013

I honestly think that is slug damage. Flea beetle damage looks like needle holes and I don't remember seeing around edges, more around the veins.

What are you putting down for slugs? I use Sluggo, but it takes a couple of weeks before you really notice them being gone, I never find any dead slug carcasses, I assume because they melt away (disgusting!) or they crawl back to their hiding places to die. The slugs I was finding were really small, like half inch long, but they completely wiped out my first planting of greenbeans (>500 plants).

After looking at a few more photos of flea beetle damage, I think flea beetles is still possible. I would just expect to see a lot more holes. You should be able to see flea beetles during the day.

I say screw it, spray the pyrethrin, its systemic and kills a lot of different bugs, then throw down some more slug bait. I know Sluggo is just iron phosphate which is good for the plants anyway!

JoynersHotPeppers · Jun 3, 2013

Yeah the slug bait I use is on the OMRI list and the slugs never make it far. I just put down some more since it rained last night. I can find dead slugs daily around the canna and hosta when the slugs are out and eat the bait. The plants seem to be doing fine for now but do not want them to turn for the worse. I'll snag some pyrethrin as well. I did look at the soil and only thing I see around are a few spider mites, ants and some winged creatures that look like they have trunks.

Here are my 2 Chiltepin Amarillo plants. These guys are already 2 foot tall each. Hoping I do not get 7 foot monsters again!

JoynersHotPeppers · Jun 6, 2013

Great, 6 days into the season and we have our first tropical storm and tracking right up the east coast. Hope everyone's plants remain intact.

DocNrock · Jun 6, 2013

JoynersHotPeppers said:
Great, 6 days into the season and we have our first tropical storm and tracking right up the east coast. Hope everyone's plants remain intact.

Good luck in riding it out, Chris! Plants are looking great. If I can ask, what is wrong with a 7 foot monster plant? Sounds awesome to me.

JoynersHotPeppers · Jun 6, 2013

DocNrock said:
Good luck in riding it out, Chris! Plants are looking great. If I can ask, what is wrong with a 7 foot monster plant? Sounds awesome to me.

Getting physically warn out picking two plants is something else! I have them in a better spot if they want to grow to 7 feet this year. I was using reverse psychology on them :dance:

Thanks, hope we get minimal wind and rain.

KiNGDeNNiZ · Jun 6, 2013

HIDEEEEEEEEEE... we may not have the FL weather... but glad im not there in the east with them storms... wish and pray for all to be safe and their plants as welll

highalt · Jun 6, 2013

Okay, just caught up on the past 6 pages. Have to say, it was a relief to see the more recent pics showing healthy new growth for you! I can relate to the plants taking a beating right after plant out. Mine a pitiful at the moment ...

My opinion on the leaf damage is that it is not flea beetles. They typically don't go after the peppers, and are visible in the daytime. What it looks like to me is earwig damage. Those do come out at night. You could try some diatomaceous earth, just remember that it will need to be reapplied after rain or irrigation.

JoynersHotPeppers · Jun 6, 2013

Nighttime has shown no visitors thus far and daytime only little flies and ants. It is a mystery for now for sure. Also very strange they are only going after the square foot pepper garden when I have 70+ plants outside of there untouched.

Devv · Jun 6, 2013

Nice Photography!

Love the Mantis shots. Grow looks great, not sure what the bugs are, no sign of any critters? They must be small due to the damage shown.

Hopefully the storm will blow itself out before it gets up your way..

JoynersHotPeppers · Jun 7, 2013

Devv said:
Nice Photography!

Love the Mantis shots. Grow looks great, not sure what the bugs are, no sign of any critters? They must be small due to the damage shown.

Hopefully the storm will blow itself out before it gets up your way..

Thank you, I have yet to find a single harmful bug and very well may capture a handful of baby mantis and move them over there. On another topic, my veggie sq ft garden had a baby rabbit living in it under the massive potato plants. The little guy was having a field day with my soy beans, cabbage, carrots and some lower pepper plant leaves. Broke out some rabbit repel, time will tell.

JoynersHotPeppers · Jun 7, 2013

Looks like we are going to avoid any wind from the storm but rain....not so much.

PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR THROUGH THIS EVENING. GENERAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES IS EXPECTED, WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS NEAR 5 INCHES POSSIBLE. IF AMOUNTS EXCEED 3 INCHES, THE LIKELIHOOD OF RIVER FLOODING INCREASES. THE HEAVY RAIN WILL RESULT IN FLOODING OF SOME ROADWAYS AND IN AREAS OF POOR DRAINAGE.

coheed196 · Jun 7, 2013

Man JHP, sounds like you're just having a hell of time over there...unknown bugs, now tropical storm. Well wishing you some good luck on the plants surviving all the rain.

RocketMan · Jun 7, 2013

you should catch that rabbit and fatten it up for the stew pot JHP

JoynersHotPeppers · Jun 7, 2013

Already in the works! We have about 4 or 5 adults...

Chewi · Jun 11, 2013

Nice Chris!!! Personally, I hope the Chiltepin Amarillo plants grow to EIGHT feet this year for you!!

JoynersHotPeppers · Jun 11, 2013

Didn't have the MACRO lens out but I wonder if these grasshoppers are my culprit! I have seen a tons of babies about this size.

WalkGood · Jun 12, 2013

Excellent picture with or wihout a macro, I hate dem grasshoppers here they certainly chow down on my leaves :/

JoynersHotPeppers · Jun 13, 2013

Be well my pepper plants....fingers crossed!

AT 938 AM EDT... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING ONE INCH DIAMETER HAIL... AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM TACONY TO SWEDESBORO TO ODESSA... MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.

grantmichaels · Jun 13, 2013

That's fun ... no, not really, I know ...

JoynersHotPeppers · Jun 13, 2013

Just watched 100 plants bent over and touching the ground, round 1 still not over.