Holes/spots on tomato, cuke, squash plants

[Talula Fairie]

Great. My kids just dug up most of my mint, and now I find holes and spots all over my squash and tomato plants.

The spots I *thought* were just water spots from me getting accidental spray on them from watering, but now there are holes? Several of my plants seem to be getting hit, and it's not just bottom leaves, it's all over. Cukes, Sqash, and tomato plants all getting hit.

I am so bummed. I hope my plants are not going to be wiped out. I have been working so hard for months!

Anyone have any idea as to what's going on?

pics:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2450/...4b65d439_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2555/...6c037410_b.jpg

[SAHMinHawaii]

Probably cucumber beetles. I found some on my pumpkin plants and now they have moved to the cucumbers. My pumpkin plant leaves(a few) look just like that.

[Talula Fairie]

I've never seen any, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

What can I do to protect my poor plants? Will they still fruit ok, assuming they don't get totally ruined?

[Lisoula]

I mixed a tablespoon of Dr. Bronners (I had almond) in a spray bottle of water and HEAVILY sprayed my plants that had cuke beetles every night for about 4 days and now - no bugs!!!! And they're producing fine, too.

[Talula Fairie]

I never actually SAW a cuke beetle.

[milagras]

From the pictures, it looks like some kind of bug. Have you ever gone out at night - say around 11pm - with a flashlight to see who's lurking in your garden? Or even some time in the middle of the morning/afternoon? A light spray with a mild soap might help, as suggested, but mostly I would try to keep an eye on who is munching on your plants. Some of that can't be avoided, so try to keep the plant happy and healthy with a little mulch and regular watering.

[Talula Fairie]

Originally Posted by milagras

From the pictures, it looks like some kind of bug. Have you ever gone out at night - say around 11pm - with a flashlight to see who's lurking in your garden? Or even some time in the middle of the morning/afternoon? A light spray with a mild soap might help, as suggested, but mostly I would try to keep an eye on who is munching on your plants. Some of that can't be avoided, so try to keep the plant happy and healthy with a little mulch and regular watering.

I've checked at all times of the morning/afternoon/evening but not at night, I could try that. Good idea! And I will definitely do a soap spraying too.

[cymbeline]

It isnt pests, it is a fungal infection, most likely gray leaf spot.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/t...leaves/16.html

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/t...ves/index.html

Cover your soaker hose with mulch to prevent splashing up onto the leaves. There are a few anti-fungals you can spray on as well, but definitely remove the infected leaves as fungus spreads quickly and will destroy the entire plant.

[Talula Fairie]

Originally Posted by cymbeline

It isnt pests, it is a fungal infection, most likely gray leaf spot.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/t...leaves/16.html

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/t...ves/index.html

Cover your soaker hose with mulch to prevent splashing up onto the leaves. There are a few anti-fungals you can spray on as well, but definitely remove the infected leaves as fungus spreads quickly and will destroy the entire plant.

I'm really not sure that's what it is. I actually saw that while I was googling It's not turning brown like in those photos, and it doesn't seem to be getting worse. Oh, I so hope that's not what's going on.

[Talula Fairie]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

I AM SO FRUSTRATED. Every plant, every single plant I have planted, is covered in spots and holes. EVERY. LAST. ONE.

I started to remove the leaves, thinking it might be grey leaf spot fungus or whatever, then realized I'd pretty much kill the plant. Of course, I realized this after mauling my largest tomato plant.

Blossoms are falling off and I don't see tomato buds a lot of the time.

MY ENTIRE GARDEN IS PROBABLY RUINED!



I really do have a black thumb.

I just want to give up and never do this again. It's not worth the frustration of growing something only to see it get demolished by I don't even know what.

ETA: I think I found the culprit. Tomato horn worms. They are eating EVERYTHING not even just the tomatoes

I think I have a little fungus too, for extra fun. I sprayed down my garden with Dr. Bronner's. I guess I will get funguscide of some kind tomorrow. I am so sad. I don't know if anything is going to survive.

[jencen]

It almost looks like Japanese Beetle damage (google image just that) are you sure you haven't seen any golden bodied beetle type insects hanging around?

[Talula Fairie]

Originally Posted by jencen

It almost looks like Japanese Beetle damage (google image just that) are you sure you haven't seen any golden bodied beetle type insects hanging around?

Yep, I'm sure. I just FOUND a hornworm though, so I know at least some of the damage was from them. I've also found little black flies and a praying mantis, dunno if those are the issue. We have earwigs as well.

The damage is way worse today than in the photos. I hadn't been out to check on everything in a day or two and I go out there and ZOMG! Every single plant is getting eaten!

And some spots do look like it's fungus. I dunno wtf is the problem. I just know I am totally heartbroken.

[Talula Fairie]

Flea beetles!!! I just found a thing on them and that could be it too

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/E/I-CO-EHIR-CD.006.html

So great. I have flea beetles AND hornworms.

http://blogs.mcall.com/master_garden...eetles_ea.html (that photo is exactly what most of my leaves look like, except the holes get bigger as the plant grows )

[jencen]

Those are some bad mfs. They tore my tomatoes up last year and their pupae are probably about the ugliest things I have ever seen. The praying mantis is a beneficial insect, that is a good sign. You really have to vigilantly go over every inch of your tomato plants and "dispose" (as you see fit) of all the hornworms you find. Don't give up!! Like the pps said, compost tea, mulch, side dress with cured compost, whatever you can do to try and maintain the health of your soil and plants in this time of stress. Good luck.

[Talula Fairie]

Well now I just wish I hadn't removed most of the 'bad' leaves from my large tomato plant. It was spindly before and now it looks terrible I probably killed it.

My other plants I sprayed down. I really can't afford to sink anymore money into this garden, so I am going to have to pray I guess.

[jencen]

:::::goodv ibes::

[Talula Fairie]

Thanks for the vibes. I went out today, removed a couple of horn worms from the raised bed and re-assessed. My containers that I moved out to the front are really not destroyed. The bug damage is NOT that horrible. I just had a mini freak yesterday, I think. Dunno how well my big spindly tomato plant in the raised bed is going to do, but I don't think it's really really damaged. It doesn't even look droopy.

I found a small bean forming on my bush beans!

And my container tomato plants are getting much bushier now that they are in full sun. The corn is starting to grow too.