Grasshoppers are common garden pests known for their strong jaws and appetite for green foliage. While they play a role in natural ecosystems, in high numbers, they can quickly decimate vegetable gardens. Their feeding habits can leave crops chewed, stunted, or destroyed—especially in late summer when populations peak.
Some vegetables are more vulnerable than others, making it important for gardeners to know which crops are at risk and how to protect them. This article outlines the top vegetables grasshoppers love, explains why they’re so attractive, and provides effective, natural strategies for protecting your garden without using harmful chemicals.
Why Grasshoppers Target Gardens
Grasshoppers are herbivorous insects that thrive in warm, dry climates and prefer open, sunny spaces—just like vegetable gardens. They lay eggs in undisturbed soil and hatch in spring, maturing into voracious feeders by mid to late summer.
They are generalists, meaning they feed on many plant types, but are particularly drawn to tender, moisture-rich foliage. Once established, grasshoppers are mobile and difficult to control, especially in rural or large garden plots.
Understanding which crops they favor most can help you plan defenses and minimize damage.
1. Lettuce
Why Grasshoppers Love It:
Lettuce is soft, tender, and water-rich—perfect for grasshoppers looking for easy-to-chew leaves.
Common Damage Signs:
Jagged holes in leaves, missing outer leaves, and shredded edges.
How to Protect Lettuce:
- Use floating row covers early in the season to physically block grasshoppers.
- Grow lettuce in containers and keep them elevated.
- Surround lettuce beds with deterrent plants like garlic or cilantro.
2. Carrots (Foliage)
Why Grasshoppers Love It:
While they don’t eat the root, grasshoppers are drawn to carrot tops, which are finely textured and highly palatable.
Common Damage Signs:
Frayed leaf tips, missing greenery, and weakened root development due to reduced photosynthesis.
How to Protect Carrots:
- Mulch around plants to deter ground movement.
- Plant trap crops like clover nearby to draw grasshoppers away.
- Introduce natural predators like birds and toads.
3. Beans
Why Grasshoppers Love It:
Bean plants provide broad, tender leaves and delicate flowers that grasshoppers consume easily.
Common Damage Signs:
Irregular holes in leaves, nibbled stems, and reduced flowering.
How to Protect Beans:
- Use netting or fine mesh covers during peak infestation periods.
- Apply neem oil to deter feeding (avoid during bloom to protect pollinators).
- Keep the area free of tall weeds where grasshoppers breed.
4. Corn
Why Grasshoppers Love It:
Corn plants are tall, lush, and have sweet-tasting leaves and silk, especially in early development.
Common Damage Signs:
Torn leaves, chewed silk, and reduced ear development.
How to Protect Corn:
- Interplant with strong-scented herbs like basil and dill.
- Spray the lower stalks with garlic or hot pepper spray.
- Attract predatory insects with companion flowers like alyssum.
5. Peppers
Why Grasshoppers Love It:
Peppers offer soft, flexible leaves and are often grown in warm weather—ideal for grasshopper activity.
Common Damage Signs:
Holes in leaves, chewed young fruits, and reduced growth rate.
How to Protect Peppers:
- Use raised beds to limit access.
- Surround plants with mulch to deter egg-laying.
- Install sticky traps around the garden perimeter.
6. Spinach
Why Grasshoppers Love It:
Spinach is tender and grows close to the ground, making it easy for grasshoppers to reach and consume.
Common Damage Signs:
Missing entire leaves, frayed edges, and slowed regrowth after harvest.
How to Protect Spinach:
- Plant under floating row covers or lightweight mesh.
- Rotate crops and avoid planting near wild grasses.
- Apply a dusting of diatomaceous earth to leaves (reapply after rain).
7. Swiss Chard
Why Grasshoppers Love It:
Like spinach, Swiss chard has tender leaves that are attractive to grasshoppers at all growth stages.
Common Damage Signs:
Chewed leaf margins, irregular holes, and weakened plant structure.
How to Protect Swiss Chard:
- Use a garlic spray every few days during high grasshopper activity.
- Encourage frogs or toads with shaded areas and small water dishes.
- Consider using reflective mulch, which confuses and repels insects.
8. Cabbage and Brassicas
Why Grasshoppers Love It:
Cabbage, kale, broccoli, and collards have large, leafy greens that grasshoppers devour quickly.
Common Damage Signs:
Shredded outer leaves, holes in developing heads, and stunted growth.
How to Protect Brassicas:
- Cover with insect netting from transplant to harvest.
- Dust with food-grade diatomaceous earth in the morning.
- Use trap crops like mustard to attract and remove pests.
9. Tomatoes (Foliage and Flowers)
Why Grasshoppers Love It:
Although not their top favorite, grasshoppers will nibble tomato leaves and flowers, especially if other food sources are depleted.
Common Damage Signs:
Leaf holes, flower loss, and poor fruit development.
How to Protect Tomatoes:
- Surround tomatoes with basil or marigold as a natural deterrent.
- Handpick visible grasshoppers in early morning or late evening.
- Use reflective tape or spinners to create movement that discourages pests.
10. Squash and Zucchini
Why Grasshoppers Love It:
Large leaves and sprawling vines provide both food and shelter, especially in late summer.
Common Damage Signs:
Leaf skeletonization, bites out of fruit, and torn flower petals.
How to Protect Squash:
- Keep vines trimmed and off the ground where possible.
- Plant nasturtiums nearby to act as trap crops.
- Use row covers early in the season, removing them during flowering for pollination.
General Grasshopper Protection Strategies
If you’re growing several of the vegetables listed above, use these combined strategies to reduce damage across your garden.
1. Floating Row Covers
Fine mesh covers physically block grasshoppers and protect young plants during vulnerable stages. Ensure covers are tightly sealed at the ground to prevent entry.
2. Companion Planting
Include strong-scented plants such as:
- Garlic
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Dill
These herbs repel grasshoppers and attract beneficial insects.
3. Encourage Predators
Create habitats for:
- Birds: Add feeders, shrubs, and water sources.
- Frogs/Toads: Place overturned pots, stones, and shallow water dishes.
- Spiders and Beetles: Leave mulch and natural shelter zones intact.
4. Neem Oil or Garlic Sprays
Apply neem oil weekly to deter feeding. Garlic and hot pepper sprays work as repellents but must be reapplied frequently, especially after rain.
5. Trap Cropping
Use plants like tall grasses, mustard greens, or sunflowers to lure grasshoppers away. Concentrate natural treatments in those areas.
6. Fall Garden Cleanup
Grasshoppers lay eggs in the soil in late summer. Clean up garden debris and till beds lightly in fall to disrupt overwintering egg pods.
When to Consider Biological Control
In severe cases, biological controls may offer long-term solutions. These include:
- Nosema locustae: A naturally occurring protozoan applied as a bait. Grasshoppers ingest it and slowly die, passing it to others.
- Beauveria bassiana: A fungal bio-insecticide that infects and kills grasshoppers over time.
- Parasitic wasps or flies: Target grasshopper eggs or larvae but are more effective in large garden systems.
Always follow application instructions carefully and use biologicals as part of a broader integrated pest management plan.
Conclusion
Grasshoppers are more than just seasonal annoyances—they can cause real damage to many common vegetables, including lettuce, beans, corn, and spinach. However, with smart planning and natural defenses, you can reduce their impact and keep your garden thriving.
Start by identifying which vegetables in your garden are at risk. Then implement a combination of row covers, companion planting, and predator-friendly practices to maintain balance. If needed, consider natural deterrents or biological controls to curb infestations without harming beneficial insects.
A healthy, diverse garden is your best defense against grasshoppers and other pests.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What time of year do grasshoppers cause the most damage?
Grasshopper activity peaks in late summer and early fall, although eggs hatch in spring and populations build through the season.
Do grasshoppers eat fruits or just leaves?
They mainly eat foliage but may nibble on flowers and young fruit, especially tomatoes and squash, if leaf food is scarce.
Are chemical pesticides necessary for grasshopper control?
Not usually. Natural deterrents, predators, and physical barriers can manage most outbreaks without synthetic chemicals.
What are some good trap crops for grasshoppers?
Clover, mustard, tall grasses, and sunflowers attract grasshoppers away from vegetables and can be targeted with organic controls.
Can I use chickens or ducks to control grasshoppers?
Yes. In rural or homestead gardens, poultry can effectively reduce grasshopper numbers while providing natural fertilizer.