Something eating my JBP seedlings?

[dansai]

A couple of days ago I had a few JBP seeds popping up their heads. A photo from today shows where they were at

IMG_3293.jpg

I went back into the greenhouse today to see if the cotyledons were out and couldn't find them. I did find a few of these though

IMG_3295.jpg

It would appear something has been having a nice little snack. It doesn't appear to be slugs/snails as there is no slime and the cut very clean. Obviously I want to protect the others and would like to know if anyone can confirm what creature may be possible? Or any other reason.

My thoughts are either crickets, grasshoppers or rodents. I haven't seen any scat around plants.

I'm thinking I'll need to do some sort of cover and can put mesh to keep out rodents and still allow light and air, but it would be less effective on a grasshopper, and wouldn't keep a cricket out. I definitely won't use any kind of poison as I have too many frogs and other wildlife about.

[shibui]

I'd try a rodent exclusion first. New germinated cotyledons are almost as good to eat as the seeds so all sorts of pests will eat them.

[PWC]

A couple of days ago I had a few JBP seeds popping up their heads. A photo from today shows where they were atIMG_3293.jpg


I went back into the greenhouse today to see if the cotyledons were out and couldn't find them. I did find a few of these thoughIMG_3295.jpg


It would appear something has been having a nice little snack. It doesn't appear to be slugs/snails as there is no slime and the cut very clean. Obviously I want to protect the others and would like to know if anyone can confirm what creature may be possible? Or any other reason.

My thoughts are either crickets, grasshoppers or rodents. I haven't seen any scat around plants.

I'm thinking I'll need to do some sort of cover and can put mesh to keep out rodents and still allow light and air, but it would be less effective on a grasshopper, and wouldn't keep a cricket out. I definitely won't use any kind of poison as I have too many frogs and other wildlife about.

I have used clear plastic bottles before and worked well, you cut the base and top off and make a clear cylinder.
You could just cut the base off this leaves a smaller hole at the top but may increase the heat in inside depending how much sun it gets.

[dansai]

Id need a big plastic bottle to cover these!

I try the mesh and see how we go

[PWC]

looks like a small tube stock

[dansai]

yes, except there is over 150 of them

[PWC]

See your point, not a scale I deal in.

[CalebH]

A couple of days ago I had a few JBP seeds popping up their heads. A photo from today shows where they were atIMG_3293.jpg


I went back into the greenhouse today to see if the cotyledons were out and couldn't find them. I did find a few of these thoughIMG_3295.jpg


It would appear something has been having a nice little snack. It doesn't appear to be slugs/snails as there is no slime and the cut very clean. Obviously I want to protect the others and would like to know if anyone can confirm what creature may be possible? Or any other reason.

My thoughts are either crickets, grasshoppers or rodents. I haven't seen any scat around plants.

I'm thinking I'll need to do some sort of cover and can put mesh to keep out rodents and still allow light and air, but it would be less effective on a grasshopper, and wouldn't keep a cricket out. I definitely won't use any kind of poison as I have too many frogs and other wildlife about.

I have used clear plastic bottles before and worked well, you cut the base and top off and make a clear cylinder.
You could just cut the base off this leaves a smaller hole at the top but may increase the heat in inside depending how much sun it gets.

I made little holes in a plastic bottle, then there would be more air (and conditioning). Lots of little holes No rodents get in, no large insects either.
Plus there's no need to grow the plant outdoors while it's small. It can be transplanted when it grows up.