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Mystery Pest

lyn52.bastlyn52.bast Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Something is decimating my plants! Kale, peas, beans, nasturtiums, leaves and stems nipped off, left on the soil. Various plots affected around the garden. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers, Lynda

Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    I would say slugs and snail damage.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    I agree.  They are mainly nocturnal feeders, so go out after dark with a torch and you'll catch many red-handed and can remove and dispose as you see fit.  I did it last night and found my newly planted young asters each had at least one munching away!
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • lyn52.bastlyn52.bast Posts: 5
    I did have the beans and peas planted in tall tubes, with a thick layer of wood ash and grit around them - it usually works. I'll try some beer traps tonight, at least they'll die happy!
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I don’t think your plants will survive in those pots with no soil, can you get them planted into bigger pots full to almost the top with compost  and give them a chance. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Fill the pots with soil and lift them off the floor onto a table
  • lyn52.bastlyn52.bast Posts: 5
    They aren't in pots, they are offcuts of pipe - about 2 feet long, filled with garden soil.
  • lyn52.bastlyn52.bast Posts: 5
    UPdate, last night's beer traps have no slugs or snails in them this morning......
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That first pic is classic slug damage.  :)
    If the containers are full of garden soil, there could well have been loads of slug/snail eggs in it to start with. 
    I would doubt it's ideal for growing veg though - ok for nasturtiums maybe, but not enough nutrition for most veg unless you've added other organic matter to it.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Leaves snipped off like that could be rabbits or deer.... in which case the slug pubs won't work.
  • lyn52.bastlyn52.bast Posts: 5
    Update - Mystery solved!! I grew some more peas in a container, then planted them in the veg plot. My husband set up a wild life camera. This morning, the peas were all sniped off again, some bits left lying, others just a wee stalk. The camera footage revealed it was a mouse! How do I protect my plants from mice?!
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