Advice for chilli and pepper plants

[zazen999]

I could give them a name, but better not.

Ok - if we haven't got a name for them in a month then we shall name them ourselves...

[Dr Pips]

There's hundreds of the buggers!!! I was very proud of myself when I thought I'd found "it" before my wife pointed out a dozen more of them! Any recommendations for spraying?

Dom

[Florence Fennel]

Better get my rubber gloves out and go on a squishing mission tomorrow teatime then!

[Florence Fennel]

Chillipillar?

Capsipillar?

[zazen999]

Capsipillar - gets my vote.

Dom - I'm organic so I bought an organic bug spray. And just sprayed those leaves. For tonight, I'd spray with a hose outside and try and dislodge as many as you can for now...and get whatever pest control you think you need tomorrow.

[Dr Pips]

Ok, they're growing in the conservatory, so better not get the hosepipe out though!! Will any organic bug spray from a garden centre work?

[Florence Fennel]

Could you take them outside to give them a blast of the hosepipe Dom? That's my plan for tomorrow as they are all in my little stayput greenhouse.

[zazen999]

Ok, they're growing in the conservatory, so better not get the hosepipe out though!! Will any organic bug spray from a garden centre work?

I meant take them outside and give them a good burst with the hose.

I don't tend to recommend any pesticide treatment as I very very rarely use them - in this instance I personally used an organic one that I found that treated caterpillars but I don't know what is in your local shop so it's hard to say.

[Dr Pips]

Oh good idea!! thinking outside the box was never one of my strong points! One last question, I'm going on holiday soon for a fortnight, and have nobody to look after the plants. Should I put them outside for two weeks, or get some of those crystal things?

Dom

[susiewoosie]

My peppers have holes in them as well, I've looked for caterpillars but can't see any

[BarleySugar]

I've had a lot of trouble with the little green caterpillars too, burrowing into the chilli near the stem, then just eats away until they fall off. Not put off by hot chillies or anything.
I'm not sure if they are the same, but 'tents' made of leaves have been attached to apples, plums and raspberries too. When dislodged there is a caterpillar trying to get into the fruit. Often only a surface mark at the early stage, but if I don't get them in time, bang goes the fruit We don't get many birds in the garden because of the cats, I don't know whether they would help.