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Slimy Grobags

Chris314Chris314 Posts: 51
in Problem solving
Each year around April I sow some salad leaf seeds in a grobag in the greenhouse.
When I've harvested that lot, I rake over the compost then sow a second crop.
This year the second lot is coming up OK and now about 2-3 iches tall.
HOWEVER: the whole of the exposed compost is covered with sticky slime.

Suggestions as to what that is and why.
Is it safe to eat the salad leaves ? they look OK

Posts

  • Lena_vs_DeerLena_vs_Deer Posts: 203
    Is it sort of like jelly? Could be slime mould. If it is, it will probably turn powdery at some point. Maybe yellow, white or brown. They sometimes come in compost, but can just as easily get tracked in as spores on clothes. They’re not toxic or venomous so salad should be fine, but you’d need some visual confirmation that that’s exactly what it is. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Lettuce attracts slugs and snails. Are you sure you aren't seeing their slime trail? 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Lena_vs_DeerLena_vs_Deer Posts: 203
    Fairygirl said:
    Lettuce attracts slugs and snails. Are you sure you aren't seeing their slime trail? 
    That too! haha :smiley: easiest answer often is the right one :) 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Greedy little munchers  ;)
    I'd have thought a growbag was an awful lot of compost for just growing lettuce. I sow in small pots, then plant the whole pot on into pots to cut and come again, and do successive seed sowing, rather than leaving them to grow fully.
    Some of the red ones are nice for growing in a border too, so I occasionally plant out a small pot if I have plenty, and let those grow on fully   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Chris314Chris314 Posts: 51
    definitely not slugs/snails.
      I have the grobag 6 inches above ground level in a large tray supported on copper legs. That 'contraption' has always been 100% effective in stopping the slugs.
    Yes it seems overkill for a few salad leaves, but I've always been able to use the compost for other plants at the end of the season. Maybe I shouldn't do that this year.
  • Lena_vs_DeerLena_vs_Deer Posts: 203
    edited June 2021
    I don’t think anything is overkill as long as it’s not a burden to do for you personally. It’s more of a personal method :smile: I have some quirks towards my plants, they put me at ease and I consider them all worth my time and results.

    But back to slime, I think slime mold is a decent contender here . They do get split eventually, but for a while just look like a clear jelly 

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