I planted some herbs. Something has eaten my cilantro, it left nothing but the stalks. I don't want to use pesticides. I want an organic garden. What would eat the cilantro and nothing else, and how do I stop it from happening again without pesticides
by 
medicgirl
ANSWERS: 3
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I used to have some green pepper plants and the same thing happened to me. But late one night when I went out to water them, I found these GIGANTIC green cattepillars having a feast on the leaves and flowers. I did a little research and found out that they are called the tobacco hornworm. they eat peppers, herbs, or anything in the nightshade family of plants. They are not harmful to humans and there horn (found at back of body) isnt either. Now, to tell you the truth I don't know how to keep these little...or should I say big, these suckers from coming back. I kept killing them but it dosnt stop them from returning. I will tell that this cattepillar is probably the problem and the distinctive feature is a little red horn at the back. look tobacco hornworm up on the internet. Here is an idea (havnt tried it) put chicken wire all the way around the plant and that might keep the moths from coming in to lay the eggs. Just be sure to kill the catepillars already inside.
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Herbs are small plants. Maybe consider bringing your herb garden indoors. If that isn't a possibility, maybe build a small screen to cover them and plant it firmly in the ground around the plants. Herbs love a nice sunny window.
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Try to find out whether it has a companion plant (a plant that would repel whatever vermin tends to eat another plant -- for an example, I've heard tansy sometimes planted near cucumbers and squash to prevent them from being ruined).
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