Question
Greetings, I have recently started planting and I have a small herb and vegetable garden. I recently notice in my pepper plant a small (tiny), purple slimmy, worm that resemble slugs. They are feeding off the leaves leaving a slimmy residue in them. So far I have removed them and wipe down the leaves with water, but I dont know how to get rid of them. Appreciate very much your help!

Answer
Hello Jessica, my first query from Puerto Rico!

If they are slugs or caterpillars then you have been doing the right thing in removing them and wiping the plants.  However, you can buy slug pellets which will kill the slugs but you have to be very careful when you put them down as they are poisonous for pets and wildlife.  So they should be kept covered.  When you buy them ask the store assistant for advice on how you should cover them. I have never used them myself as I, thankfully, have never encountered slugs in my plants.  I imagine you could prop up a piece of broken pot over the pellets so that birds etc would not see them but the slugs would be attracted.

Good luck with growing your herbs and vegetables - I too have a few herb plants, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries and a beautiful lemon tree but mine are all in pots on my balcony.  Hope the slugs don't crawl up the building to my balcony!!! Thankfully I am on the third floor so maybe they wouldn't have the energy!  And if they do, then it's a long drop down for them!

Best of luck

Diana