Green Beans

Question from Daisy:
Thank you so much Pat. I cant believe how quickly you answered the question. We do have rats and mice in the area, so that might be it.

Although, one of the plants sliced off had the top laying on the ground. I look forward to hearing you at another one of your future talks.

Answer from Pat:
For sure it’s a rat if it’s a clean slice like I thought you described. But now you say the top of one plant was laying on the ground. This does not sound like a rat. When a rat is full he or she will leave and come back another day.

But plants, such as young beans, zinnias, and tomatoes, cut off at ground level and lying on the ground are the result of a pest and that is a cut worm. Cut worms are large, fat, unpleasant-looking caterpillars. They are the larval form of a night-flying moth. The moth lays its eggs on bare ground and these caterpillars then emerge at night and cut off young seedlings at ground level.

I don’t believe in using pesticides, such as Sevin dust, against cutworms. Sluggo Plus Granules kills cutworms. Sprinkle on the bed after planting. However, the best way to protect plants from cutworms is to surround the necks of the plants just prior to planting with a protective collar made from the inside roll of paper towel, holiday gift wrap, or a toilet roll. Set the collar tightly down on the earth. These protective collars will prevent cut worms from coming along at night and cutting off plants at ground level.