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Minnesota

I have never had a cutworm. It ate a hole in one cot and 3/4 of the other, sawed right thru the 3rd true leaf. It was rolling around the seedling, I grabbed it, chopped it up and then mashed it. Now I have to wait and see if my seedling will bounce back from being eaten.

5/8/2010 1:53:07 PM

Oakley, UTAH

Richard cutworm is a nemisis here to me also,, i sprayed bayer tree and shrub in the soil before the ground froze and again before i tilled this spring ,, double the dosage,, if u use,, got the same stuff as merit in it ,, best of luck,, but start a new seed.. Curt

5/8/2010 4:12:20 PM

Minnesota

I put a ring around the replacement seedling, suppose to help keep out the cutworms.

5/8/2010 5:11:01 PM

Ham Lake, Minnesota

Good job Richard, using the ring should give you much better protection. Sorry about your troubles, hopefully you come out on top with the freeze on the way tonight! I'm watching the hoops via wireless feed on temp.

5/8/2010 7:58:19 PM

Minnesota

I looked a little deeper and it had also ate almost all the way thru the seedling,,,its in pumpkin heaven now,,I have a replacement in that spot now.

5/8/2010 8:13:45 PM

Ohio

Richard, I cant remember who told me this, but I haven't had a cutworm buzz one of my seedling off at ground level since then.

But what I do is put something down in the ground right up against the seedlings stem , I use like a small rock or a small piece of bamboo.
They say if a cut worm cant wrap itself completely around a small seedlings stem then it wont bother eating it. Maybe someone else can confirm this.

So far this little trick has worked for me(knock ON WOOD) , and no surprises when going out in the morning opening your hoop and seeing your seedling buzzed at ground level and laying there like a fallen tree,,

5/8/2010 9:19:05 PM

Minnesota

I'll try that tommorrow to, thanks.

5/8/2010 11:01:20 PM

Rhode Island

we cut the top off a two gallon black plastic pot ( about 4" down from the top of pot) then place it around the new plant and press an inch or so into the ground around the seedling. never had a cut worm problem doing this.
we put to much work into preparation not to take the extra steps now.

5/9/2010 8:20:10 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

I do similar to Brooks. I put a small piece shish kabob stick
against the stem of the the seedling. I tie it loosely against the stem with twine, to keep it in place. I put the stick about 1.5" into the soil and leave at least an inch above soil. I do the same with my tomato plants. You have to make sure the twine doesn't get too tight to constrict the plant stems...so I loosen it as the plant grows. I take the twine and stick away when the plant stem gets thick enough to be safe from the cutworm.

5/9/2010 8:44:37 AM

Minnesota

I have the ring around it now, cut from a gallon milk jug container.

5/9/2010 9:40:29 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Cut a 4" wide strip from a manila folder, staple into a ring and bury just over 2" deep around plant. If there is no cutworm inside that boundary when it's placed, it keeps them off your tomatoes, pumpkins, etc, and biodegrades...

5/9/2010 11:26:33 AM

Long Island,New York

Even cutworms love giant pumpkins...I'm sure it was just giving it a good hug.

5/9/2010 11:48:44 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I make a collar out of plastic cups. Plus I put Diatomaceous Earth around the plant as well.

5/9/2010 12:33:56 PM

Minnesota

A good hug, it was munching it like you eat a corn on the cob, side to side,,its in cut worm heaven now.

5/9/2010 1:22:45 PM

Ohio

Brat, I like that idea, plastic or styrofoam cup should work great.

5/10/2010 7:15:00 PM