ilovetogarden, Longy's signature line is 'the secret is the soil'. He wasn't suggesting it's our soil that's causing the problem
The flea beetles have gotten my malva zebrinas, and the leaves look pretty ugly. It's also gotten to most of the wandering jew and the nightshade. I've still been pulling the wandering jew because it's so invasive, but have left a lot of the nightshade, so the flea beetles will feed on that and not my other stuff! It hasn't helped the zebrinas, though I haven't given them much TLC this year either except to let them grow and 'just be'. I think as far as flea beetles go, I found
this link that gives some control recommendations. I'm all organic, so that's what I looked up. You might also check at night, to see if they are slugs that are eating your
plants...if so, you can put out a shallow bowl of beer, and they will be attracted to that and drown. Just put it away from your
plants...you don't want to attract them to the area, but rather lure them away. I'm not real sure what to do about catterpillars...sorry I can't help there...but hope some of this info helps you