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Old February 28, 2017   #1
Grannys_Garden
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Default Seedlings are being eaten.

Hello everyone,

I grow my seedlings every year with no problems. This year however, I am experiencing the tops of my seedlings being eaten off as soon as the leaves appear.

I make my own seedling mix. This year I was forced to make a change to my mix. I could not find regular compost and instead substituted mushroom compost.

Have any of you had this problem? or do you have any idea what is eating the tops off my seedlings.

Thanks
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Old February 28, 2017   #2
KarenO
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where are you growing them, mice will do it, so will cats
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Old February 28, 2017   #3
Grannys_Garden
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No cats or mice. I am starting them in an incubating station in my basement. I have been starting them here for several years.
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Old February 28, 2017   #4
Starlight
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If you don't have cats or mice, you might have a slug or snail munching away at night that was in your soil mix.
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Old February 28, 2017   #5
Grannys_Garden
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I have been watching for them. Because I need to replant most of my plants. I am going to change the compost again. I am bummed. I lost 43 out of 50 plants.
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Old February 28, 2017   #6
ddsack
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I would still suspect mice. I have a cat and still get an occasional mouse in the house that can hide out for a while. You might want to bait a trap with peanut butter and set it near the seedling area just to be sure one isn't coming around checking at night.
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Old February 28, 2017   #7
Jimbotomateo
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I have snail problems but that's probably too much loss for snail. Sneaky mouse. Hope you get him.
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Old February 28, 2017   #8
carolyn137
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Please consider fungus gnats if you have any house plants in your home. That's what caused the same problem for me.

https://www.google.com/search?q=gnat...to+seedlings&*

Please notice the links at Tomatoville as well as Garden Web,etc.

Just another suggestion.

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Old February 28, 2017   #9
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I had baited mouse traps when I found the first few chewed off. Hubby set up mouse traps around all of my trays. Thanks Dee

Carolyn, that is why I am going to change to a different compost. I think it must be some kind of bug. Thank you for the Internet information.
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Old March 1, 2017   #10
gardeninglee
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I had pill bugs eat several of mine last year. They left just the stem in place. I moved my seedlings to a different location and spread diatomaceous earth around the area I moved them to to keep them away.
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