Who Is Eating My Eggplants?

Thrips, flea beetles, cutworms, armyworms, aphids, and white flies can also find food in maturing eggplant plants. The treatment for such insects is usually very simple and can be cured in reasonable time.

What keeps eating my eggplants?

Aphids and whiteflies both have piercing, sucking mouthparts used to suck the sap out of eggplant leaves and stems. Both pests are primarily found on the undersides of the leaves. As they feed, they secrete a sticky waste known as honeydew.

What animal eats eggplants?

Eggplant leaves are not very palatable and few animals will choose to eat them unless they are really hungry. While groundhogs are on the bottom of the list, they will eat them if hungry. Rabbits and deer are in the same category, but be advised, unless your fence is over four feet high, it will not keep out the deer.

Do rats eat eggplants?

Rats feed at night. They leave similar chewings on my eggplants, peppers, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, citrus, etc. They even chew up the leaf-stems of tree ferns. If you leave a bar of soap uncovered in an outdoor shower, they will eat it!

Will squirrels eat eggplant?

Bite marks and/or missing fruit. Squirrels sometimes eat part of a tomato and leave the rest behind; other times, they eat the entire fruit. Other squirrel favorites include beans, squash, cucumbers, and eggplants.

Do birds eat eggplant?

Birds can eat green tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplant; however these plants are all members of the nightshade family. This means that the fruits are safe to eat, but the plants themselves are toxic.

What is eating my plants at night?

Many caterpillars, beetles, and especially earwigs and slugs, feed at night and hide during the day. Handpicking caterpillars, beetles and slugs and dropping them into soapy water can be effective in home vegetable gardens.

Do rabbits eat eggplant in the garden?

In most cases, it’s totally fine to give your rabbits eggplant as long as you are only feeding the fruit. They cannot eat parts of the plant, as these are those that contain solanine. They should be given only as an occasional treat, just as you would feed other fruits and non-leafy vegetables to your rabbits.

Do rabbits eat eggplant?

The eggplant’s leaves and tops are especially poisonous and should not be given to a rabbit to eat. However, rabbits can eat very small portions of eggplant. You can feed your rabbit slivers of raw eggplant, but not dried or cooked eggplant.

Do deer or rabbits eat eggplant?

Deer resistant vegetables in the nightshade family include tomatoes and tomatillos, potatoes, eggplant, and some peppers. Other plants toxic to deer : Rhubarb and cucumber leaf are toxic to deer. Many otherwise toxic plants do not harm deer because they are ruminants.

How do I get rid of rats eating my plants?

In addition to mint, most rats and mice are put off by strong herbal scents, such as basil, echinacea, garlic, and thyme. To keep away the rodents, plant a border of these herbs around the outside of your garden. Once the rodents smell them, they will think your garden has nothing to offer and they’ll turn away.

Do rats eat plants at night?

You see them: Aside from activity in your yard and garden, rats often travel on top of power lines, especially at dawn and dusk. Watch for rats along fences and trees, too. Plants disappearing overnight: New plantings, seedlings, and sprouts often disappear overnight without a trace.

Do coffee grounds keep squirrels away?

Coffee grounds will keep squirrels away from your garden because they do not like the smell. Simply sprinkle some fresh grounds on the soil surrounding your plants every two weeks. You can also try spraying your plants with a hot pepper spray for the same effect.

What is a natural squirrel repellent?

They’re said to dislike the scent of coffee grounds and peppermint, or you could make up your own recipe with vinegar, garlic and onions or peppermint oil to spray in the garden. Chilli flakes and pepper might put them off, so try a sprinkling of these.

Do squirrels eat plants at night?

Wildlife that feed at night include rabbits, deer, squirrels, chipmunks, voles, woodchucks, groundhogs, and skunks.

How do I keep bugs from eating my eggplant?

Cultural and Mechanical Control. Hosing off your eggplant with a strong blast from your garden hose can help control small flea beetle populations. Prevent the pests from even reaching your eggplants by covering seedlings and young plants with floating row covers.

What is the best spray for eggplant?

The insecticides used by vegetable farmers on eggplant include profenofos, triazophos, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, and malathion. Residues from their application have been found in both the soils of eggplant farms and in harvested fruits.

How often should eggplant be watered?

Eggplant also needs consistent water, at least 1 inch per week. It is better to give one thorough soaking than several frequent, short waterings, because frequent watering promotes shallow roots. Weather and soil type, of course, will affect water demand.

What grows well with eggplants?

Peppers, both sweet and hot, make good companion plants, as they have the same growing needs and are susceptible to the same pests and diseases. Tomatoes are often used as eggplant companions. Again, be sure not to shade the eggplant. Potatoes and spinach are also said to make great companion plantings too.

Can dogs eat eggplant?

Though dogs can eat raw eggplant (it’s not poisonous), they may not enjoy the flavor, so grilling, baking, or roasting is recommended. You can serve plain cooked eggplant in small bite-sized pieces and be sure to avoid seasoning.

What do I do if a bird eats a poisonous plant?

Once ingested, Dieffenbachia can cause a painful burning of a bird’s tongue, as well as localized swelling of the tongue and crop, resulting in difficulty eating and breathing. If your bird ingests any plant that you are not sure is safe, consult your veterinarian immediately.