We always eat snails (escargots) as a Starter on Christmas Day (Some prefer oysters - but that's Christmas Eve for us) - They are truly yummy to anyone who like mushrooms. Yes you can eat Garden Snails but it is a great cafuffle, and as we like 12 each - it would be really a waste of time. There are many award winning snail farmers in Normandy - My particular favourite is a snail tucked into a vol au vont topped with rocquefort - It is truly amazing.
My nematodes arrived today but I'm aware that it's going to be freezing tonight (literally) with frost, so shall I wait until it pasts or will it not be an affecting factor?
Last night I went out with my salt on patrol, the amount of snails I saw was unbelievable.. I must of found more than 40-50 probably as it was so wet.
I'd hang on until the next spring like spell. - Only a few days and it will be worth it. Also plant lots of herbs between veg rows or in between summer bulbs - in particular thyme/lemon balm and dwarf rosemary - S & S really do not like the smell especially if you scatter rubbed herbs along rows too, I find eggshells don't work once they are wet and pappy - Only in hot summer weather and this of course in when S & S search out damper areas anyway. - Short of all this invest in 2 ducks - They love slugs and snails plus mice & voles - unlike hens they will not scratch up veg and flower beds.
I can't recommend nematode treatment enough! used to collect litres of slugs and snails on night safari but one year of treatment really made the numbers plummet. The dead slugs carry the nematodes back to the soil where they wait for another slug to emerge...brilliant. My little helper has kept numbers in check too
I was going to apply the rest of my nematodes to the allotment today but I ran out of steam, and just as well: it will be as low as -1 tonight! While I have read that they can survive the odd frost, I don't fancy the odds of that on their first night. I'm also a bit worried as the pack recommends applying the whole pack in one go but I've had half of my pack in the fridge since Tuesday....but hey-ho, nothing ventured..... I'll re-order some in 2 weeks for the allotment, once I've gotten it into better nick.
I planted some yarrow seedlings at the allotment and they were decimated! I'm using the nematodes and neem oil (foliage only) tomorrow. That is one stunner of a frog Marinelilium!! I'd love some on my patch. I might just go ahead with the idea for a sunken tub mini-pond
Buying the nematode treatment is worth every penny when you put time, effort and money into seedlings and your food crops only to find they have been devoured overnight.
It took years of organic gardening, to get toads, frogs, birds and beneficial insects to do most of the pest control. The balance comes, but just not the next morning, (That means seaweed and chicken pellet based fertilisers, homemade garlic bug spray, no digging, compost mulches etc).
Anomander: Frogs and toads send their best regards. For your lottie a sunken half barrel is enough of a pond...."Build it and they will come"
We had a resident toad here but I haven't seen him in a while. I'd love to attract frogs so will take this idea up! Leaning towards more of a wildlife garden now Fishy is that a border terrier I spy in your dp? Getting our puppy in 2 weeks having grown up with plenty! Wonderful breed.
It certainly is Mark His name is Robbie and the black lab is Lexie. They are inseparable buddies and my assistants in the garden....well some of the time
He's the second border we've had, our first who's name was Scamp is buried on the far side of the pond. Real little characters aren't they. Good luck with your puppy
My tuppence update: LOVE Nemaslug!! There has been a SIGNIFICANT decline in the slug population in my back garden! Both my sea hollies and foxglove have had significant growth spurts- admittedly, there had been some nasty brown nocturnal caterpillars feeding on them that I exterminated in nightly raids too but the slugs are far fewer in number.
Posts
We always eat snails (escargots) as a Starter on Christmas Day (Some prefer oysters - but that's Christmas Eve for us) - They are truly yummy to anyone who like mushrooms. Yes you can eat Garden Snails but it is a great cafuffle, and as we like 12 each - it would be really a waste of time. There are many award winning snail farmers in Normandy - My particular favourite is a snail tucked into a vol au vont topped with rocquefort - It is truly amazing.
My nematodes arrived today but I'm aware that it's going to be freezing tonight (literally) with frost, so shall I wait until it pasts or will it not be an affecting factor?
Last night I went out with my salt on patrol, the amount of snails I saw was unbelievable.. I must of found more than 40-50 probably as it was so wet.
I'd hang on until the next spring like spell. - Only a few days and it will be worth it. Also plant lots of herbs between veg rows or in between summer bulbs - in particular thyme/lemon balm and dwarf rosemary - S & S really do not like the smell especially if you scatter rubbed herbs along rows too, I find eggshells don't work once they are wet and pappy - Only in hot summer weather and this of course in when S & S search out damper areas anyway. - Short of all this invest in 2 ducks - They love slugs and snails plus mice & voles - unlike hens they will not scratch up veg and flower beds.
I can't recommend nematode treatment enough! used to collect litres of slugs and snails on night safari but one year of treatment really made the numbers plummet. The dead slugs carry the nematodes back to the soil where they wait for another slug to emerge...brilliant. My little helper has kept numbers in check too
I was going to apply the rest of my nematodes to the allotment today but I ran out of steam, and just as well: it will be as low as -1 tonight! While I have read that they can survive the odd frost, I don't fancy the odds of that on their first night. I'm also a bit worried as the pack recommends applying the whole pack in one go but I've had half of my pack in the fridge since Tuesday....but hey-ho, nothing ventured..... I'll re-order some in 2 weeks for the allotment, once I've gotten it into better nick.
I planted some yarrow seedlings at the allotment and they were decimated! I'm using the nematodes and neem oil (foliage only) tomorrow. That is one stunner of a frog Marinelilium!! I'd love some on my patch. I might just go ahead with the idea for a sunken tub mini-pond
Buying the nematode treatment is worth every penny when you put time, effort and money into seedlings and your food crops only to find they have been devoured overnight.
It took years of organic gardening, to get toads, frogs, birds and beneficial insects to do most of the pest control. The balance comes, but just not the next morning, (That means seaweed and chicken pellet based fertilisers, homemade garlic bug spray, no digging, compost mulches etc).
Anomander: Frogs and toads send their best regards. For your lottie a sunken half barrel is enough of a pond...."Build it and they will come"
I would second a sunken tub Anomander
Frogs require very little water in which to spawn and are brilliant slug munchers.
We had a resident toad here but I haven't seen him in a while. I'd love to attract frogs so will take this idea up! Leaning towards more of a wildlife garden now
Fishy is that a border terrier I spy in your dp? Getting our puppy in 2 weeks having grown up with plenty! Wonderful breed.
It certainly is Mark
His name is Robbie and the black lab is Lexie. They are inseparable buddies and my assistants in the garden....well some of the time 
He's the second border we've had, our first who's name was Scamp is buried on the far side of the pond. Real little characters aren't they. Good luck with your puppy
My tuppence update: LOVE Nemaslug!!
There has been a SIGNIFICANT decline in the slug population in my back garden! Both my sea hollies and foxglove have had significant growth spurts- admittedly, there had been some nasty brown nocturnal caterpillars feeding on them that I exterminated in nightly raids too but the slugs are far fewer in number.
So go get your nematodes!