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quarryman · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 417 Location: Sligo

Any ideas what could be cutting the stems of tomato plants about 3 inches above soil level. I have put 5lt water bottles over the remaining plants and have had no more damage.

Torc · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 108 Location: North Clare

I've never had slugs climb up tomatoes - those stems are hairy and maybe deters them.
Could it be that they are suffering from that virus that kills off seedlings?
If the stem has not been cut through, you could try putting a tube (pipe or plastic bottle) around them and packing in some compost. They will re-root above the wound.

quarryman · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 417 Location: Sligo

The plants that were cut were about 12inches tall and were cut clean through. The plastic bottles have stopped them but I am just wondering what could have done it. They are in the poly so it shouldn't be birds.

blowin · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 12:07 am Post subject:

You haven't let your OH loose with a strimmer in there by any chance ?
Can't think of any other explanation .
Is it possible that they were initially cut almost through at ground level but the damage didn't become obvious until they had grown a bit and become top-heavy which caused them to snap off ?

quarryman · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 417 Location: Sligo

They were covered by the bottles from the start but when they got larger I took the bottles off to tie them to supports. The next morning three of them were cut.

I have since put the bottles back over remaining ones and no more attacks.

Hope you are not working your new Woofer too hard, Blowin.....

quarryman · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 417 Location: Sligo

CUTWORMS ..............B*^%&*ds The bottles seem to be doing the trick.