Garden pest
Cutworms
Seedlings clipped off at the soil line overnight.
Cutworms is mostly out of season right now.
How to identify cutworms
Plump, greasy-looking gray or brown caterpillars an inch or two long that curl into a tight C when disturbed. They hide just under the soil surface by day and feed at night.
You almost never catch them in the act — you find the toppled seedling first, then dig an inch down nearby to turn one up.
Attacks: Tomatoes, Peppers, Cabbage, Beans, Corn, Lettuce
Life cycle: Night-flying moths lay eggs in weedy soil and debris; the caterpillars overwinter in the ground and attack in early spring just as transplants go out.
Signs of cutworms
What you actually see on the plant — usually before you spot the pest itself.
- Young seedlings cut clean off at or just above the soil line
- Wilted, felled transplants lying next to an intact stub
- A curled gray caterpillar found in the top inch of soil nearby
Organic control, least-toxic first
Start at the top and only move down if you need to. Physical and cultural fixes come before any spray.
- Put a collar around each stem
A toilet-paper tube, or a cardboard or foil collar pushed an inch into the soil around each transplant, physically blocks the caterpillar from reaching the stem. This is the single most reliable fix.
- Scout the soil at night or after a loss
When you find a cut seedling, dig a shallow ring around it, turn up the caterpillar, and drop it in soapy water.
- Scatter Bt or diatomaceous earth
Bt bran baits or a ring of diatomaceous earth around seedlings kill or deter the caterpillars, per the label.
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One rule for any product you spray: follow the label. The label is the law, and it is the tested, safe rate for your plants — homemade mixes and dish-soap sprays are not, and can scorch foliage.
Prevent it next season
- Clear weeds and crop debris a couple of weeks before planting to starve the eggs
- Wait to transplant until seedlings are sturdy, or set out larger plants they can't fell
- Hoe the bed lightly before planting to expose overwintering caterpillars to birds
Questions about cutworms
What is cutting my seedlings off at the base?+
Almost certainly cutworms — night-feeding caterpillars that sever young stems at the soil line. Dig an inch into the soil near a felled seedling to find the culprit.
How do I stop cutworms without chemicals?+
Put a collar (a toilet-paper tube works) around each transplant's stem, pushed an inch into the soil. It physically blocks them and is close to foolproof.
Plan a garden that fights back
Healthy, well-spaced plants shrug off pests that flatten a crowded bed. PlotToTable sizes your beds, spaces every crop, and flags the pests that hit what you grow.