Who's eating my plants?

Hi all,

sorry for this message...still at my first experience. I planted plug plants last week. I waited 24 hours before covering them with a netting. Few of them were eaten by someone.
Now, I am concerned there're still being eaten by someone. I remember when I dag the soil two weeks ago I found a brown toad hiding just under the soil and I might think it's still there.

For slugs, I have beer traps and they're working apparently. But I've seen a single slug so far in all my allotment.


Here few pictures



Will my plants survive?

Thanks in advance!

 

Hiya pilotax

Could be caterpillars.....have a look under the leaves

However, I think its slugs or snails that are the culprits

Go out there when its dark with a torch and have a look. The sign of a toad suggests two things....its moist there and a food supply there, viz., slugs.

 

Haven't checked for caterpillars. What's the possible solution?

 

Pigeons. Net them. Wikos netting is half price to 75% off instore at the moment.

P.S. Image 3 also has some snail damage.

 

not many pigeons around.

 

One's too many.

That damage is classic pigeon damage (google image search it). They tear the leaf of the stems/veins in chunks, caterpillars, slugs and snails aren't big enough to do that.

Being freshly planted, I'm surprised they haven't been pulled out the ground, so I assume you firmed the soil down well, and they have nice tender leaves.

 

I'd agree, pigeons

 

Well, I misinterpreted. If it's a pigeon, I have netting now, so no problem. However, I had the perception they got eaten after being covered, so a pigeon might not be responsible here (or I am just so concerned, I can't understand if the damage progressed further).

 

Keep the netting clear of the leaves, rather than letting it rest on the plants, or they'll still be able to get at the leaves. I can't see any support structure in the pics.

I use Wilko pond netting with small square mesh (rather than the expanding stuff with large diagonal holes that they can stick their heads/beaks through) Wilko Garden Crop and Pond Protection Netting 2mx4m | Wilko It states discontinued, but it's been reduced instore.

 

I bought netting on Amazon; square mesh size is 14mm; 4mx10m (2m was short, and 3m is virtually non-existent).
It is clear of the leaves and stretched. If a bird wants to eat, it needs to dismantle the solution
I locked also netting on the ground with piquets.
It should be more clear in this picture

 

I think it's slugs.

 

Yup, me too

 

For slugs I used a couple of cup with beer.
Actually I captured a single one.
My nearby allotments don't have slugs, don't have traps either.

 

The impression I get is that it’s both slug and pigeon damage.