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Most slug-resistant dahlias?
grace.hennessy
Posts: 3
in Plants
I’m new to growing dahlias, and wanted to try a selection of different varieties to see which grew best for me. My garden is heavy clay, lots of rain so there are plenty of slugs about 😕
I haven’t had much spare time this summer so didn’t cosset the plants too much once I planted them out (I potted the tubers to start), didn’t use any slug barriers or garlic sprays or anything at all. I’m definitely not interested in using pesticides of any description.
I have found that some of the plants were absolutely decimated by slugs, as expected, but some were remarkably resistant. What I’d love to know is, does anybody have a list of those varieties that perform best in terms of slug resistance? It seems to me this would be a super useful resource, and yet my trawl of the internet hasn’t found any!
I haven’t had much spare time this summer so didn’t cosset the plants too much once I planted them out (I potted the tubers to start), didn’t use any slug barriers or garlic sprays or anything at all. I’m definitely not interested in using pesticides of any description.
I have found that some of the plants were absolutely decimated by slugs, as expected, but some were remarkably resistant. What I’d love to know is, does anybody have a list of those varieties that perform best in terms of slug resistance? It seems to me this would be a super useful resource, and yet my trawl of the internet hasn’t found any!
The ones that have resisted slugs most effectively in my garden (and there are LOADS of slugs EVERYWHERE!) are Black Jack, Totally Tangerine, Chat Noir, with Linda’s Baby and Cornel Brons doing ok as well. Internet tells me Twynings After Eight is very slug resistant so that’s on my hit list.
All feedback from similarly slug-infested gardens gratefully received 🙂
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I also garden on clay soil (that I've improved over the years).
BC all have the dark leaves and hot tropical colours that really stand out during the autumn months.
Growing from seed is also a LOT cheaper which suits me nicely.
The red one on the right has been in the ground for about 5 years now, the tangerine ones are in their 2nd year.
Most are shades of red, orange and yellows, but I also got a double purple one germinate this year.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
The big orange one I bought for this year - Neon Splendour, kept them away a bit better, but I've had to do the 'raised in a tray of water' method for many of them, including the ones from seed. One pot is currently sitting in the pond shallows on bricks
The 2nd mild winter in a row didn't help. The slug population is dreadful here. At least in a normal winter, they're kept at bay a little bit longer.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have 3 identical lobelia plants in 3 identical pots all within a metre of each other. Presumably all 3 are equally delicious. However, one has been eaten to a leafless twiggy framework, one has some nibbling evidence, and the 3rd is fine. Slugs either have excellent table manners, finishing their starter before moving onto the main course, or they munch randomly.
I find the best course of action, is to start them off in pots, and not to plant out until they are large robust plants. They still get eaten, but seem to survive well enough.
This year has been particularly bad for slugs.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
By this stage of the season, I don't fret too much.