Attack of the Killer Caterpillars!

Well I have managed to keep the birds out, but now I am fighting a battle with caterpillars! The victim in this case was set to be a really nice Mortgage Lifter. A little brown splotchy caterpillar had burrowed in around the stem and done this damage in just a few hours. Needless to say I was upset.

So, in trying to keep the garden organic as possible, and since I have fruit to harvest in a matter of days, I am going to try the diluted soap trick. Evidently you can fill a water spray bottle with 2 drops of Dawn and spray everything with it. Supposedly, the buggies don't like the soap protecting them which can then be washed off harmlessly once picked.

Next year I think I am going to supplement the garden with some tobacco plants though. That should keep most of the pests away as well.

Here is the horrifying caterpillar damage. Be careful, it isn't pretty.