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Slugs

JohnjoeJohnjoe Posts: 77
in Problem solving
Hello everyone,

This is my first post but I've been lurking and learning from you all.

I have a question, if slugs eat the top of my Cosmos seedlings, the top two leaves, the seeding leaves not the real plant leaves, if you know what I mean, will they grow back or should I just scrap them and start again?

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Still time to start again
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • JohnjoeJohnjoe Posts: 77
    I was thinking that would be the case, even though hoping against all hope someone would tell me all would be ok.........ever the optimist!
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Once the adult leaves appear, the seed leaves can be abandonned.  But have the slugs eaten the whole top of the plant.  If so, that is final.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
    An 'evil' slug made a meal of my dahlia seedlings too:



    You've got good advice from @B3. I thought I'd pot the damaged seedlings on to see if they'd come to something, half a doz are still alive, but the replacement seedlings have now overtaken them.




    Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

    Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
  • JohnjoeJohnjoe Posts: 77
    Thank you all, I guess a trip to the Garden Centre will be on my To Do list this week, not a hardship, but it'll probably mean I'll spend even more money!
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Very easy from seed. Not sure they will be at GC's yet they are always late. Once you have some save seed for following year. You could try more seed if you have it. There are so many different ones I love Rubenza.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited April 2023
    Where did the slug come from?  Not reused seed compost I hope.  What have you done to prevent a recurrence.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    GardenerSuze said:
    Very easy from seed. Not sure they will be at GC's yet they are always late.
    I was in about 7 of them weekend just gone and definitely no cosmos. 
  • JohnjoeJohnjoe Posts: 77
    Sorry I meant i'll buy more seed, I'll stop off at a local shop that I suspect will have them. The slugs just come from nowhere here, Thames Valley, came down to find two slugs having a good time amongst the seedings.

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