Little black bugs are plaguing my eggplant crops.  Just destroying them!




They have done the same to all of the other gardeners in my community garden, too.  But it doesn't do much to make me feel any better.  I've grown eggplant without any issues for the last few summers.  My biggest predator was of the squirrel variety.  But these little black flea bugs are vicious!  I've pulled several of the plants out already and replaced one and still...dying!  All because of some dumb bug!




I've tried making my own sprays using garlic, soap and cayenne pepper.  For me, it didn't work.  So then I decided just to start pouring the pepper and cinnamon on and around the plants.  I've since mulched with straw and while the plants are still alive, they still don't look great.  I'm now debating if I should take them out or leave them in as the sacrificial lamb in hopes that the bugs continue eating them instead of other plants.




If you have any thoughts or advice, please feel free to share!  I am still sort of holding out hope that I might get a few good eggplants this year.  But I think that perhaps I'm living in fantasy land!