Are there any backyard veggie gardeners here?

[Cuilidh]

Courton, do you know what is attacking your plants?

You could try a garlic spray (steep garlic in water for a few days) then spray on the leaves with the strongest nozzle setting - not the softer spray setting.  You could also look at diggers.com they have some safe sprays.  Chilli spray is another, made in the same way as the garlic. 

Are the plants in a raised bed or at ground level?  If it's a raised bed you can get copper tape to stick to the outside, this deters slugs and snails  from crossing - I believe the wee darlings get electric shocks from this (this may be an urban myth, though).  Another good barrier is coffee grounds (your local coffee shop will have an endless supply).  This either gives slugs and snails 'heart attacks' or dries their slime up and they die.

Coffee grounds are also good to add to compost.

Good luck.

[courton]

Thank you for your detailed reply. I do not know what is eating my basil and mint. It has white bits in the leaves (not normal!). The plants are in raised pots and I do use coffee grounds on top. I don't think it is snails or slugs - or rather have seen no evidence of it.

The garlic spray is a great idea. Someone suggested Pyrthium spray but I was a bit concernd using this on herbs.

[Emme]

I am not sure what area you are in but found this site which has some information that might help. 

[Cuilidh]

I tried to respond re. pyrethrum earlier, but the post got lost somewhere.  It should be safe enough to use a pyrethrum spray, but might be wise to wait 24 hours before picking and to wash well before eating.  You could always grown your own pyrethrum and make your own spray as well.  I use a pyrethrum spray for cherry / pear slug.

[Emme]

The pyrethrum is also good for the black aphids which we get on our cherry trees but you have to keep spraying it at intervals to kill them off

[courton]

Thanks for all your replies. I will have to look at the beasts with a magnifying glass tomorrow and then follow your advice. Options are pyrthium spray and garlic spray. Emme, that site was good in forcing me to find out about the enemy I am dealing with!

[Cuilidh]

So, do you know what it is now?  You could always take a cutting (in a plastic bag, of course) or photos to your local nursery and see if they can help as well.

[courton]

I couldn't investigate last night since it was too dark and off to the south Coast for the whole day so I will do it tomorrow.,Good idea about the bag but won't take it to Bunnings like like I did last 2 times since they gave wrong advice!!!

[EmeraldSue]

Hope you can find out what the pesky things are and eradicate them.
I have been picking broad beans for the last couple of weeks, and my tomato bushes have little green tomatoes already. I spread some compost onto the kids old sandpit that I commandeered for my veggie patch at the end of last summer, and all winter I've had tomato plants popping up. I thinned them out a little,but they are growing really well.

[achookwoman]

This is How I have started off my greens for planting out later.  They are in the top and bottom parts of plastic drink bottles. I poked a hole in each with a hot skewer.

[courton]

Looks good Chookie.

I took my herb cutting to the nursery on the way to the South coast and the nurseryman immediately identified caterpillars as the problem. Have come home with organic Diapel to try on the pesky creatures.

[Cuilidh]

Your garden looks great, ES, I am jealous.  I like oyur seedling raising system, Chookie and very happy that you have resolved your problem, Courton.  I was going to say not to bother taking the samples to Bunnings, unless you strike it lucky, those who work in the garden area probably wouldn't know a great deal.

[achookwoman]

ES,  great use for sand pit. 

[Lucyluu]

To all you expert gardners out there, it's brown thumb here! My basil and other herbs are being eaten by something. There are white bits and eaten leaves. What is safe to spray on herbs?

I save my eggshells after cooking some cakes etc, then blitz them a few times with some hot water in thermie. Strain then let them dry. Then I sprinkle around my vegies and herbs. It keeps the slugs and snails at bay. A nighttime trip into the garden ,especially after rain, with a torch can also help find out who the culprits are.

[obbie]

i just picked yellow zucchini, pak choy, bok choy.