Murder Mystery

[isbister]

I bring on my seedlings in a lean to conservatory at the bottom of the garden. They all stand on a table with plenty of overhang to foil mice etc. There are absolutely no slugs or snails, I've never spotted any crawling things. There are brassica seedlings, tomato plants, courgette, pumpkin and cosmos seedlings. And sunflowers, six of, about two inches high. Or there were, now there are only three. The other three have been scythed off neatly just below the first leaves leaving the stem sticking out of the soil like a matchstick. !!!??? What's done this? All other seedlings untouched, no sign of removed sunflower tops - presumed eaten. My prime suspect is something with wings - anyone got any ideas?

[isbister]

[Georgie]

There may be no sign of them but my money is on slugs or snails - they adore Sunflowers.  Check very carefully under all the containers and under the table and if you find any kill them off quickly by dropping them into hot water.

G x

[norfolklass]

snails. they've done exactly the same to my marigolds >:( I've lost 8 out of 20 seedlings overnight.
the only thing that works in my experience is to remember to cover your seedlings every night.

[froglets]

Mice - acrobatic little b*g*e*rs.

[isbister]

Thanks for replies but I don't think molluscs because I sprinkled a few pellets about and caught nothing and I don't think mice because I keep the bird food {sunflower hearts and peanuts) on that table and never been touched in years...

[Garden Manager]

I had a similar problem with soem young chard and perpetual spinach  plants. I planted them, put down slug protection (OK pellets!). Over the next couple of days they were reduced to stumps and even these disapeared. Seemed almost too quick for slugs/snails and there were no slime deposits on the stumps or the soil.

I gave it some thought and came to the conclusion that the only 'pest' that could have worked that fast would be birds, particularly wood pigeons and collared doves both of which we have large colonies of near the garden. I can just imagine them searching for food, finding my plants and thinking they might make a tasty meal. I have since replanted and added netting to keep them off.

Of course it could still be a very sneaky and swift slug or even a mouse (although i havent seen any other signs of mice around the garden).

[davyw1]

I keep saying this but it appears my typing is falling on blind eyes, or should it be deaf ears.
My bet is that the culprit is a VOLE.
Get some mouse traps and bait them with OXO or BACON and see what you catch.