Something eating my plants or what?

Filthy_McNasty · Jun 23, 2026

I am not sure if this is a bug issue or something else since the holes are light brownish around the edges? Maybe sunburn?
Last photo this seems to be bug problem.
Yesterday I sprinkled some Lavender and Peppermint essential oils around/on plants hoping it would repel (some) bugs. Any other suggestions?

It`s been heavy rain in recent weeks in Southern Ontario ..... plants are otherwise thriving and growing/expanding rapidly in last 4 weeks since I moved them last week in May outdoors when they were around 4-5 weeks old.

Thank you!

Filthy_McNasty · Jun 23, 2026

Filthy_McNasty · Jun 23, 2026

Filthy_McNasty · Jun 23, 2026

Ninjadogma · Jun 23, 2026

I know it looks like bugs but if you look closer you'll see that they more closely resemble burn holes. The rosemary and peppermint oils you were using could have done this damage if it wasn't diluted enough, and whenever you apply any kind of foliar, make sure you do it when the lights are out or if you're growing outside, do it early morning or late afternoon when the sun isn't hitting the plants.

Filthy_McNasty · Jun 23, 2026

Ninjadogma said:
I know it looks like bugs but if you look closer you'll see that they more closely resemble burn holes. The rosemary and peppermint oils you were using could have done this damage if it wasn't diluted enough, and whenever you apply any kind of foliar, make sure you do it when the lights are out or if you're growing outside, do it early morning or late afternoon when the sun isn't hitting the plants.

Just to be clear, I did not apply/foliar essential oils on leaves, just around the plants a bit on the main steam hoping the smell would repel bugs as Lavender does. I did use oils only last night, but these holes appeared maybe a week ago or so and are spreading ....
Can it be sunburn since I mentioned it was raining quite a bit in recent weeks, mixed with nice sunny days ....

orggrwr · Jun 23, 2026

That last pic looks a lot like grasshopper damage.

GNick55 · Jun 23, 2026

Filthy_McNasty said:
View attachment 2683319

let’s see the whole plant,.
yes it’s a bug or two,.
you should check for tiny catapillars ,..
you should be fine doing nothing as predator insects are always close behind .
but can i see a few whole plant pictures,.

Filthy_McNasty · Jun 23, 2026

GNick55 said:
let’s see the whole plant,.
yes it’s a bug or two,.
you should check for tiny catapillars ,..
you should be fine doing nothing as predator insects are always close behind .
but can i see a few whole plant pictures,.

GNick55 · Jun 23, 2026

i’m also in southern ontario,. Sarnia,.. those look fine, i wouldn’t be doing anything at this moment,..
are you planning on putting those into the ground or transplanting to bigger pots?

Ninjadogma · Jun 23, 2026

There's a leaf that looks devoured and a leaf that looks burnt and there may be two different things. Yes probably bugs, and the burn spots, given that you did NOT put anything foliar on, could be a particular type of calcium disruption. If it's localized I wouldn't worry about it... Plant could have hit some unevenness in the soil and this is how they work it out. Everything else looks good so you can likely just incorporate some treatments at regular intervals you're golden.

Filthy_McNasty · Jun 23, 2026

GNick55 said:
i’m also in southern ontario,. Sarnia,.. those look fine, i wouldn’t be doing anything at this moment,..
are you planning on putting those into the ground or transplanting to bigger pots?

Waterloo, ON
The problem is that my garden beds, that I used a few years with great success growing some of the tallest Tomato plants ever, are not exposed to the sun that much so I decided to keep these ladies as is. I know they won`t grow as much but I am ok with that.
I am using the same soil mix as I do for garden beds, maybe 5-6 types of soil from Canadian Tire combined with worms (casting), manure, etc.... its such rich soil mix.
This is just 3 weeks earlier .... they grow so fast now .....

Oldchucky · Jun 23, 2026

I think the first two pics could even mean the beginning of some leaf Septoria! Just a wild guess!

Something eating my plants or what?

Something eating my plants or what?

Filthy_McNasty

Filthy_McNasty

Filthy_McNasty

Filthy_McNasty

Ninjadogma

Filthy_McNasty

orggrwr

GNick55

Filthy_McNasty

GNick55

Ninjadogma

Filthy_McNasty

Oldchucky

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