Topic: Are red plants less damaged by slugs etc?

[plotstoeat]

I usually grow red lettuces like lollo rossa as I have found the slugs don't like them. I grew red Brussels last year and they were also relatively unscathed. Has anyone noticed this with other red vegetables?

[galina]

I usually grow red lettuces like lollo rossa as I have found the slugs don't like them. I grew red Brussels last year and they were also relatively unscathed. Has anyone noticed this with other red vegetables?

In short - yes!   

[Flighty]

Yes, slugs don't appear to like red.  The red skinned main-crop potato variety Desiree is generally slug free.

[alkanet]

Yes, slugs don't appear to like red.  The red skinned main-crop potato variety Desiree is generally slug free.

How can they tell? I mean, it's dark down there

[Silverleaf]

Yes, slugs don't appear to like red.  The red skinned main-crop potato variety Desiree is generally slug free.

How can they tell? I mean, it's dark down there

I guess the taste is the thing. They don't like the taste of anthocyanins very much, by the sounds of things.

[okra]

Not only slugs. I have found pigeons don't like red plants either.

[Paulh]

The slugs were happy enough to eat Desiree when I grow them one year.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've had Red Duke of York absolutely riddled with holes, to the point where the crop was unusable, and purple kale is hammered by pigeons without discrimination.

[plotstoeat]

A split verdict then. I must say I have had some slug damage on Desiree in the past. So no definite conclusion?

[goodlife]

Can't really say yes or no to either way..some red'ens get damaged and other not..but it is same with green ones here too...

[Jayb]

I'm not sure I've generally noticed much of a difference, though I have thought in the past red lettuce are less bothered by slugs. Will try and take more notice. I didn't much like red sprouts so I've only grown them the once. Graffiti cauliflower does get eaten by slugs and snails but whether they prefer the regular sorts more - perhaps a trial ...

[cornykev]

As said, red spuds are mean't to be slug free but I have noticed them being nibbled for the past two years, nothing major but the slugs (spit) are getting greedy.     

[amphibian]

I grow Forellenschluss lettuce - the slugs don't touch it once it's passed the first few leaves. It's green with red speckles.

They definitely don't like peppery pungency - leaving mizuna and mustards alone.

lollo rosso tends towards bitterness like radicchio - I assume slugs aren't fans of earwax.

Experiments have shown slugs are less likely to eat potatoes that are higher in solanine.