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slugs...
bookmonster
Posts: 399
Anyone else at war with the slimy ones? My dwarf runner beans are so rambling the copper tape is achieving nothing (I caught a pair climbing up a spring onion to get to the beans), the poor plants are nearly stripped of leaves.
I have started setting a beer trap in the middle of the bean patch - would several round the edges be better when I can collect more milk bottles? What's the cheapest thing to fill them with?
Any assistance welcome! (don't really want to use chemicals).
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Nice malty real ale ... they love it ... dark and malty ...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
They're getting nothing but cheap stuff here, the amount we're getting through... Do nematodes help!?
Everyone is at war with the slimy ones! I can recommend "The Little Book of Slugs" from the Centre for Alternative Technology, the last time I looked it was £2, and it's a fun read.
I put the cheapest of cheap home brew in my slug pubs, and they drown themselves in it just as readily as in anything we'd find palatable. I fill a large jar with warm water, stir in a few spoonfuls of sugar, and a teaspoon of baking yeast. Leave it on the windowsill or anywhere at room temperature for a few days, and it's ready.
I've started to attract them by leaving the stone of peaches, plums, nectarines and cherries with some flesh on them. I then spread some killer pellets around them. Not only does it wipe them out but also cleans off the flesh from the stones. Thus two benefits in one - eating healthy fruit for me and wiping out slugs and snails.
I have a stone block with a big lump of wood for crushing them when I find the odd one that has lost its way. I also like cutting them in half.
Why do I despise them? I was once growing some beautiful lilies for a friend. When I went to check them the following morning they had been wiped out. Never again!
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HI Bookmonster,
I've been using nematodes for 3 years now and they really work. Far less damage than before.
I was a sceptical at first .... thought it would be a bit of a gimmick ... but I'm really pleased with the result.
They are not cheap, but if they save a few plants then I figure they've paid for themselves.
I also get to spend more time actually gardening rather than just rounding the blighters up for hours on end!!
Worth trying.
Bee
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
Bee, I second the nematodes. It's the first year I have used them and what a difference!
Best of luck Bookmonster.
Another vote here for nematodes ... a lot less slug damage on my Shady Bank.
But do keep the solution away from ponds ... the nematodes also kill pond snails
Last edited: 04 August 2017 07:40:38
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I may have to try them then, though I wish there were smaller packs, my veg patch is only 6 foot by 3.
Nematodes is good for me too but the area is too large for complete coverage here, I find the lamb's wool pellets are fantastic as a mulch, as well as grit. A boiled garlic spray also works but needs re-applying after rain