I think Mice are eating my buds!

Ponytail

Ponytail

New Member
I have 3 tomato plants and 3 pepper plants. I have been trying to figure out why the damn things aren't bearing any fruit. I've had LOTS of buds on all of them, but so far have only seen one tomato.

So, I was looking VERY closely at all of these plants daily, this week, and have noticed that the leaves and buds are slowly disappearing from the bottom up. They are being chewed off. I can see tiny teeth marks. That's the only evidence. There is nothing on the ground. Just disappearing leaves/branches and buds from teh bottom up with tiny teeth marks left behind on teh remainder of teh plants.

I have one pepper plant that hasn't grown since I planted it, but its still alive. Everytime it sprouts a new leaf or branch, its gone within a day.

Any ideas what I can do? spicy pepper spray or somthing? I hate to put mice/rat poison out there, cuz i don't want to smell dead animals out there or in my shed, not in this heat.
 
Lilypad

Lilypad

Well-Known Member
Ponytail said:
I can see tiny teeth marks. That's the only evidence. There is nothing on the ground. Just disappearing leaves/branches and buds from the bottom up with tiny teeth marks left behind on teh remainder of teh plants.
Any ideas what I can do? spicy pepper spray or somthing? I hate to put mice/rat poison out there, cuz i don't want to smell dead animals out there or in my shed, not in this heat.
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Nah, not mice-cut worm maybe or as RR gave a link to; tomato worms. :yay:
Can't ya just see them little mice standing on their tippy toes munching! :killingme
 
RoseRed

RoseRed

American Beauty
PREMO Member
Ponytail said:
Nah, that ain't it. I'm positive it's mice that are doing it. I know i've got mice in my shed. It's probably those little bastages. I had one get in the air conditioning fuse box and short it out last year.
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You sure about that?

Habitat and Food Source(s): Caterpillars have chewing mouthparts. Adults have siphoning mouths. Caterpillars feed of leaves of tomato, eggplant, pepper, potato and some weeds. Adults are attracted to lights.
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StanleyRugg

StanleyRugg

New Member
Could be rabbits. Momma Rugg sits ut by her garnden in the evnin with a .22 single shot. She uses .22 shorts so it wont startle the neighbors but it sure does a number on them rabbits. Momma Rugg has uncanny night vision. It aint always been that way but ever since she got struck by lightnin in 1981 she can near about see as good at midnight as she can at noon.

I have been trying to study it but my specialty aint in physiology as much as it is physics and mechanical science. Besides ever time I try to experiment on her she is a feared I am goin to hurt her and she gets all jittery. Last time she kicked a hicky on my knee and i limped for a week.
 
Llwynog

Llwynog

Thats Welsh for fox.
I have seen squirrels eat green tomatoes. Those brazen little varmints will sit on the fence and eat them right in front of you.
 
W

waupaca

Rich
I had same problem. Chipmunks.........
You can get the small live traps for about ten dollars. put a few seeds in and when you catch the little buggers take them several miles away so they can't find their way back.
 
jazz lady

jazz lady

~*~ Rara Avis ~*~
PREMO Member
Ponytail said:
I have 3 tomato plants and 3 pepper plants. I have been trying to figure out why the damn things aren't bearing any fruit. I've had LOTS of buds on all of them, but so far have only seen one tomato.

So, I was looking VERY closely at all of these plants daily, this week, and have noticed that the leaves and buds are slowly disappearing from the bottom up. They are being chewed off. I can see tiny teeth marks. That's the only evidence. There is nothing on the ground. Just disappearing leaves/branches and buds from teh bottom up with tiny teeth marks left behind on teh remainder of teh plants.

I have one pepper plant that hasn't grown since I planted it, but its still alive. Everytime it sprouts a new leaf or branch, its gone within a day.
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It's hard to tell if it's a critter or an insect. Caterpillars and armyworms tend to leave bite marks, as well as squirrels, mice, rabbits, and other small creatures.

Any ideas what I can do? spicy pepper spray or somthing? I hate to put mice/rat poison out there, cuz i don't want to smell dead animals out there or in my shed, not in this heat.
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If you know it's a creature, use a spray that has a mixture of hot pepper in it. I've used this one from Bonide with great results.

If it's an insect, using a spray that has a mixture of rotenone/permethrin like this one should do the trick.
 
pixiegirl

pixiegirl

Cleopatra Jones
Airgasm said:
Wouldn't rule-out deer, they love tomato plants, especially the bud ends.
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Deers eat anything with a bud! They ate my ballon flower buds as well as my hostas! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr..........
 
jazz lady

jazz lady

~*~ Rara Avis ~*~
PREMO Member
pixiegirl said:
Deers eat anything with a bud! They ate my balloon flower buds as well as my hostas! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr..........
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They ate all my hosta and most of the Stargazer lilies in my one bed. :mad: But they usually nibble from the top down not bottom up like PT's mystery creature. :shrug:
 
Ponytail

Ponytail

New Member
See, that's why i think it's creature such as a mouse, and not worms or insects, or deer. The stuff is disappearing from the bottom. All of the buds and stuff at the top of the tomato plants are doing fine. I had one pepper plant that was broken off, about 8 inches up. I have the top half surviving on water in a beer glass. It's got 4 peppers growing on it. NOTHING on the other 3 plants though. The one that broke off, the bottom half, doubled in sizem but still, every time it gets a bud, it's gon. And all of the leaves and branches have been chewed off below about 10".

The tomato plants are a little more stout, and can support the weight of small critters which is why I think the buds and smaller branches are disappearing from that one approx 18" and below.

I spray using Safer products for insects, and so far, nothing has been chewing the leaves or what fruit has been out there. The buds and branches are being chewed off at the main stem.

oh yea, I have hostas, and a few other flowering, and non-flowering plants as well, and other than the squirrels eating all of my spring flowers as soon as they bloomed, nothing has touched my plants.
 
jazz lady

jazz lady

~*~ Rara Avis ~*~
PREMO Member
Ponytail said:
See, that's why i think it's creature such as a mouse, and not worms or insects, or deer. The stuff is disappearing from the bottom. All of the buds and stuff at the top of the tomato plants are doing fine. I had one pepper plant that was broken off, about 8 inches up. I have the top half surviving on water in a beer glass. It's got 4 peppers growing on it. NOTHING on the other 3 plants though. The one that broke off, the bottom half, doubled in sizem but still, every time it gets a bud, it's gon. And all of the leaves and branches have been chewed off below about 10".

The tomato plants are a little more stout, and can support the weight of small critters which is why I think the buds and smaller branches are disappearing from that one approx 18" and below.

I spray using Safer products for insects, and so far, nothing has been chewing the leaves or what fruit has been out there. The buds and branches are being chewed off at the main stem.

oh yea, I have hostas, and a few other flowering, and non-flowering plants as well, and other than the squirrels eating all of my spring flowers as soon as they bloomed, nothing has touched my plants.
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Then you can pretty much rule out deer. Try spraying with the hot pepper spray I linked in my previous post. It's made by Bonide and does have a strong aroma when first applied, but it fades in a couple of hours. I normally use Bonide or Safer products only. I got it from Lowe's a couple of months back and it worked like a charm. :yay:
 
Sharon

Sharon

* * * * * * * * *
Staff member
PREMO Member
I guess rabbits also. Throw a carrot out under each plant and see what happens. :killingme
 
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