Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
August 27, 2019 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Indianapolis Area 46112
Posts: 853
|
Pill bugs in the Garden?
Are a lot of pill bugs in the garden ok? I have a raised bed and have a ton of them - if a fruit drops there are a hundred "babies" under them even in the daytime.
Pete |
August 27, 2019 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Williamsburg VA Zone 7b
Posts: 1,110
|
I always keep my raised bed covered in mulch so I typically have a lot of pill bugs. The only problem I seem to have with them are with tender seedlings like peas. My solution - sow the peas fairly close together - let some be damaged - thin them out once the plants are big enough where the pill bugs don't bother them.
If I did a ton of direct sowing my response may be different. The vast majority of my plants are transplanted at a size where the pill bug damage is minimal to none. OTOH, I have thousands of little pill bugs working for me free of charge converting plant wastes into great soil. Love them for that! |
August 27, 2019 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 119
|
I also use mulch (wood chips) as a cover. (No till) Thankful that the pill bugs break down the organic material, but like jtjmartin, the pill bugs will sometimes chew off my seedlings. What works for me is to spread back the wood chips back until I get to dirt. Plant my seeds. When seedlings are several inches high return the mulch back around the plants. Pill bugs don't bother my seedlings if the wood chips are spread out several inches from the seedlings.
I used to collect those pill bugs (outside the garden) by placing a wooden board on the ground. Just like your fallen fruit, the bugs collect under the board. Lift board quickly and gently scrap in to a bucket, and then take them to the CHICKENS! :-) |
August 28, 2019 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 6,793
|
We call them "carpenters" here, and I do have zillions of them because of being in the woods and plenty of sticks, boards and other habitat. They will congregate under anything, including row cover. And they have done some nasty damage to little seedlings when at their worst.
All the same I mostly ignore them. If they get under my row cover, the solution is to take it off, give it air and light. Trapping works well too - and too easy. Just lay down a board, they'll be under it in droves. |
August 29, 2019 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Indianapolis Area 46112
Posts: 853
|
thanks all, they did eat the seedlings but as you all have said pretty much a bit beneficial if anything - i'll ignore and leave them alone.
Pete |
August 29, 2019 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ohio
Posts: 4,350
|
They will eat anything..... good or debris. In the early spring they do more damage than summer to plants. I have had them eat off entire new crops in the greenhouse. I frequently will put an insecticide around a desired seedling.. Now is when they are cleaning up the garden debris. I leave them be at this point.
__________________
carolyn k |
August 29, 2019 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Serbia
Posts: 199
|
Still find it amazing that pill bugs are crustaceans.
|
August 30, 2019 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
|
|
August 30, 2019 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Serbia
Posts: 199
|
Aren't everyone's?
|
August 30, 2019 | #10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Philly 7A
Posts: 739
|
They're so big in my garden that they have been eating the cats.
|
August 30, 2019 | #11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 119
|
Good one, SQWIBB! |
August 30, 2019 | #12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
Posts: 4,832
|
You are gonna need bigger boards for those to hide under, SQWIBB !
__________________
I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing. |
August 30, 2019 | #13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Williamsburg VA Zone 7b
Posts: 1,110
|
That one could eat Hensaplenty's hens!
What is that? |
August 30, 2019 | #14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Philly 7A
Posts: 739
|
It's a giant isopod.
I have been growing them. I opened a restaurant and sell them as lobster. |
August 30, 2019 | #15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
|
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|