Eggplant stems being eaten - Ask Extension
Most curious -- there is something eating a section of stem of 2 of my 4 plants. It is about 1/2" above the soil like for maybe 3/4" of gnawing down...
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Eggplant stems being eaten #467285
Asked July 02, 2018, 9:17 PM EDT
Most curious -- there is something eating a section of stem of 2 of my 4 plants. It is about 1/2" above the soil like for maybe 3/4" of gnawing down to an apparent tough core. I've never seen anything like this and can't find anything on the internet about this! Help!!
Thanks so much. So far the plant still looks OK.
Thanks so much. So far the plant still looks OK.
Denver County Colorado
Expert Response
This could be cutworm damage - if you wanted to confirm it, you could dig in the soil and see if there are larvae in the soil around your plant.
Insecticides are somewhat effective - since the insects are ground dwelling, you will need to probably use a granular application. As always, make sure to read the label carefully.
There is the possibility that diatomaceous earth, coffee grounds or crushed up egg shells may help, though the effectiveness of these methods are unclear.
Here's a guide from Utah State on cutworms in vegetables in general: https://vegetableguide.usu.edu/insects/potato/cutworms
