Stop Eating My Veggies!

Pests and a pollinator?

What if your long-awaited veggies are already being munched on? Yelling, Stop Eating My Veggies, hasn’t worked! I need a plan B.

Pay Attention

The first step is to notice any pests that have dropped by. I have to be honest, I collected these photos just like my typical nature photoshoots. My plants were looking beautiful. I felt so grateful and lucky.

Only when I uploaded the photos here to start writing did I notice a pest. Imagine how I felt. So, as you look through the photos, see if you notice the two critters that joined the shoot. I will address those later. First, I will give an update on my growing season as I originally intended.

I have a tomato! A couple, actually, and several additional blossoms. I am so excited! I can’t wait to watch these ripen and pop them right in my mouth. I will rub them on my shirt first — I don’t plan to hold myself to a very high level of food safety on my deck. Feel free to set a safety standard that works for you on your deck. (Plants from Burpee)

Sugar snap peas! I am so “awemazed” to think this little blossom will leave way for a sweet pod with tiny peas. Again, I will also pop them right in my mouth. To be honest, these may only get a quick wipe between my thumb and my finger, they won’t even get the shirt sanitation treatment. (Seeds from Burpee)

I have already harvested a salad bowl full of lettuce, and shared it with some guests. There is more for dinner tonight. So sweet! I give this a good rinsing in my salad spinner and let it air dry before devouring. (Seeds from Burpee)

Peppers are on the way. Blossoms are unfolding beautifully. I have saved an article from one of my favorite garden writers Katie Michaelson for help with my peppers next year. She is a pro of many things, I hope she won’t mind if I add pepper pro to her list of accolades. (Plants from a neighbor: Looking forward to the surprise! My neighbor told my husband more info but he can’t recall the details. We will wait and see.)

Broccoli is new for me. I hope to gather a nice harvest. All is well so far. (Plants from Burpee)

Identification and Taking Action, or Not

Did you see the two visitors in the pictures above? I can’t believe I missed one of them while I was taking the photos.

So, here is what I think may be a pollinator on the broccoli. I intentionally captured it in this photo because of its beauty. I will tell you, it wasn’t easy. It had no intention of sitting pretty for a photo. I will use the best photo I have to identify the species and see just how helpful (hopefully not harmful) this one is for my broccoli. I have an inclination that it is a cabbage moth. Yikes!

Did you see another tiny critter as you scrolled through? It caught my attention as I uploaded the pictures. There it was in clear view. Is that a pest on my sweet peas? I gasped…stop eating my veggies! I will use the photo to identify this one, too, and see what remedy I can come up with to save the peas!

I am going to start my “Save the Veggies!” campaign with this resource from Abbey Quillen: Getting Rid of Garden Pests. I like this resource because it shows photos, gives good strategies starting with great soil and considers the options of being tolerant or taking action. Just what I need to save the veggies.

Take a Closer Look

I decided I better go take a closer look. If I missed one the first time, maybe I missed another one. I can’t believe what I found as I started my investigation. Some of these newly discovered pests may just be stopping by for a visit, others have clearly come for a feast.

Maybe I ignored them in my original photoshoot because I only wanted to feel awe and to revel in my good luck. So much for my luck. Is this where it runs out? I am off to identify the culprits and figure out some solutions.

Final Thoughts

In the past, I have not worried much about pests. I have just let nature run its course. I was more tolerant and willing to share. But, right now for some reason, I feel like I should take a stand and save my veggies! I will post an update to let you know who wins the veggies.

Thank you for reading! I hope everyone finds awe in the process this growing season! Even if you do have to share a bit of your bounty with the pests.

If you want to take a look back when some of these veggies were first planted or even back to when they were just a plan, check out these two stories:

Growing things, especially food can bring immense feelings of awe. The world is designed to support all beings in harmony. Recognizing these feelings of awe can greatly contribute to our health and well-being — just like some freshly grown veggies! If you would like to write about your experiences of feeling awe, check out my new publication For Awe.

Thanks to Glad Doggett for editing services through World Traveler’s Blog.