How do I prevent holes in the leaves of my vegetable garden?

Question

Something is eating the leaves of several plants in my vegetable garden. Can you help determine what is causing this and how I can prevent it?

This affects several of my vegetables: Turnips, Lettuce, Spinach, etc.

I live in Los Angeles, CA and this is taking place now (January).

Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

In my experience, this kind of hole is often caused by slugs. Slugs stay hidden during the sunlight period and pop out during wet night and rainy days, making them difficult to spot. Note that it can be caterpillar, thumbtack (not sure of this translation) or even birds. For identifying the "pest", watch for your plants patiently and minutely.

To fight the slugs, you have a lot of options :

• If there is no big rain planned for next days, spread ashes around your plants - it dries the slugs and fertilizes growing vegetables,
• Put beer in little bowl (like bottle cap) at ground level -slugs love beer and can die ... from ethylic coma,
• Don't let any bush develop next to your plants - this their favorite refuge,
• If you have no other option, buy anti-slug granules.