This is the journal of my endeavours to grow a range of fruit, veg and flowers from seed, grow organically, and my attempts to create a personal paradise with 1/2 acre of maintained gardens and 1/2 acre wild meadows. Northern Ireland's average daily high temperatures are 18 °C (64 °F) in July and 6 °C (43 °F) in January. Soil type: Clay

Wednesday 12 February 2014

Veg Holes are always Suspicious



On a dry day, I walk around the garden, admiring the lovely chard which over Winters well, and is now beginning to actively grow again. 

Hmm.. I think.. those holes in the leaves don't quite look right. Something must be nibbling. I begin to inspect but don't see anything. I usually blame slugs and snails for everything in the garden. I keep looking the plant over, very thoroughly, and I eventually come across a few little green caterpillars of varying size. I also come across a black caterpillar. 

Caterpillars really helped themselves to my non-netted plants over the summer, and I'm wondering if some of them or eggs have hibernated over the Winter (not that we've had much of a Winter)?

Variety: Chard 'White Silver 2' grown from seed in April and planted outside in June.
Has anyone else noticed caterpillars this time of year?

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.
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8 comments:

  1. Jo@awholeplotoflove12 February 2014 at 12:24

    Yes, I found a similar one last week whilst I was turning the compost heap. Blinking things!

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  2. Mark Willis12 February 2014 at 23:30

    No, I haven't seen any caterpillars yet, but I wouldn't be surprised to see some, since the weather has been so mild. They would probably be of an amphibious variety though!

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  3. elaine 12 February 2014 at 23:51

    You must have pretty hardy caterpillars in Ireland - all my chard is under nets but if they are hungry enough I guess they will find it.

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  4. Sue Garrett13 February 2014 at 00:33

    Certainly seems a strange time to be finding any. I would have thought that they would be Chrysalis or hibernating adults rather than caterpillars.

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  5. --Ana--13 February 2014 at 13:44

    Noup, this is the only time of the year caterpillars and bugs don't party in my garden. They sleep waiting for my seeds.

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  6. ann14 February 2014 at 05:51

    No. No caterpillars here. Too much snow and no greens under neath.

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  7. Casa Mariposa16 February 2014 at 17:43

    We're still tight in winter's grip so all the insects are asleep but some caterpillar eggs do overwinter. I'd check to see which of your native butterflies/moths overwinter their eggs.

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  8. organicgardendreams19 February 2014 at 18:13

    Yup, I have found a very similar looking thing on my geraniums. Even here in warm Southern California that is early! But we kind of had a hot spell lately and that brings all the insects, good and bad, out.
    Christina

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