Wee beasties are eating our snow peas! What should I do?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (205716)
Walnut Creek, California
February 19, 2019 11:42am CST
@Vandana7 noted in a comment today that I haven't been bragging about my beautiful snow peas lately. Here's the scoop:
The snow pea plants on my balcony are doing fine, and I occasionally harvest a few there and either munch them up or put them in something I'm cooking up.
The illegal ones at Kaiser were growing slowly but surely last time I was there. I'll have a chance to check them today, as I'm picking up some meds.
But the ones at the new preschool are getting eaten by wee beasties, and I can't tell whether it's slugs, snails, or evil squirrels. They grew fine in the little paper cups, but started getting munched once we put them in the ground.
I got some dowels for them to climb, but I'm not sure if they'll have the strength to make it up the dowels--we'll have to see.
I'll attach a snow pea picture from happier snow pea times. Maybe I'll remember to take my camera to Kaiser and do a snow pea report from there.
Any suggestions?
12 people like this
12 responses
@wolfgirl569 (95136)
• Marion, Ohio
19 Feb 19
You could try planting some marigolds near them or maybe even spread a hot pepper repellent around the ones getting chomped. I am sure you dont want any chemicals because of the kids.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95136)
• Marion, Ohio
19 Feb 19
@vandana7 I plant a lot of marigolds in the garden each year. The pepper could help if it is the squirrels
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95136)
• Marion, Ohio
19 Feb 19
@vandana7 I have never had to deal with pigeons. Could you make little scarecrows that the wind could move some. Most birds you do have to keep moving things to or they figure out it is safe. Hopefully they are not like my chickens which are penned during the summer to protect the garden. Nothing bothers them.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (48417)
• Mojave, California
19 Feb 19
I always blame that type of stuff on the slugs. Squirrels are always innocent. 
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (48417)
• Mojave, California
19 Feb 19
@TheHorse Indeed, admitted slug hater. I always step on them and they scream at me which scares the crap out of me. I tell them just a minor flesh wound buddy, suck it up. 
Indeed, admitted slug hater. I always step on them and they scream at me which scares the crap out of me. I tell them just a minor flesh wound buddy, suck it up. 1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205716)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Feb 19
@crossbones27 Do they really scream? I thought only lobsters did that. I offer them heavily salted french fries, with out the potato part. (Actually, I just toss them as far as I can.)
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
19 Feb 19
I had no idea since I have never grown them but I researched a little and learned this.. The most effective and low impact way to control slugs and snails is by hand picking. This is best done at night or early morning and must be done regularly if it is to have much effect. You will soon learn to find their hiding places. Slugs commonly hide down in crevices in the soil and you can often dig down around a damaged plant to find the culprit. You can squash these creatures as you pick them, or drop them in a bucket of salt water.
If you don’t want to kill them you can collect them in a bucket of leaves and transport them a few miles. If you have any gardening rivals you could drop them in the particular garden with the rivals.
3 people like this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
21 Feb 19
probably IS the squirrels.the lil b*stards always go after my lettuce.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
23 Feb 19
@TheHorse yea they can.i had to elevate my lettuce in the garden so they'd stay out of it.
@cintol (11261)
• United States
23 Feb 19
I have read that if you have a problem with slugs, you crush (not too small) egg shells and put them on the dirt around the plants. The slugs can't crawl over them. (don't know if it works but it couldn't hurt)
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
19 Feb 19
Nope, I grew them once here, many many years ago. I love them and I may plant a few this year for salads.
Good luck.
1 person likes this
@BloggerDi (3113)
• United States
19 Feb 19
I grow flowers only, so I don't have advice. But those are great looking pea plants! I hope you can save them from the wee beasties.
1 person likes this
