Produce > Pests & Diseases

Pest solutions for Slugs and carrot root fly

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Avine:
Hello,

I am new to the forum, based in Boston. Lincolnshire. Allotment committee are super helpful but i don't want to keep bothering them with questions all the time and i came across this forum so i thought i'd ask for some suggestions here.

So i experimented this year with a few things, the potatoes that i surrounded with a barrier of egg shells seem to have come away slug free but i couldn't really get enough egg shells to do this for the entire plot so perhaps this is not a good long term solution.
Would a pond be a good overall solution for this? Does a pond have to be a certain size? There is a rather large frog sitting under my tomato plant right now so i am inclined to dig a home for it.
I haven't checked if the committee would be okay with a pond, is there any reason they would decline?

My other big problem was carrot root fly, i had some delicious red carrots this year but unfortunately looked rather sad due to the many holes. The plants were covered throughout with fine netting. Is there any organic pesticide or other pest control method someone has to suggest for carrot root fly?

thank you for your help.

Asim
 

Avine:
I did also try Neem oil on some of my plants, that worked pretty good but would prefer to have a more permanent solution that i don't have to work for, a pond sounds like an attractive idea.

Asim

Digeroo:
I am not sure that frog live in ponds much of the year.  I  am near several lakes and currently have a good number of frogs and toads. 

No sure about the egg shells.   Some potatoes stay free of slug damage you would have had to grow some outside of the shells to see if I  made a difference.

I am sorry to say I use slug pellets.   I tried without but I was loosing the battle.  I also have regular visits from a hedgehog so try to keep them to a minimum using in them in bottle cloches mostly so they are covered.

pumkinlover:
Hi and welcome,
The slugs which make holes in potatoes tend to live in the soil so egg shells on the surface will not help much. The hot dry weather this year probably did a lot help. I started using nematodes this year but didn't carry on due to the weather.  They are an expensive but organic treatment that has to be repeated six weekly.

You will have to discuss a pond with your committee, they may say there is a risk to safety or they may be happy to allow it. Even a small pond can help frogs but if your neighbours use slug pellets they might eat poisoned  slugs.

Shame about your carrots, make sure the fleece is well pegged down or grow in tubs ( as well as the cover) can help.

lezelle:
Hi All, Hi Avine and welcome. When you thinned or weeded your carrots did you remove the fleece? if so and dependent on what time of day you did the job carrot fly are notorious for homing in on the scent of carrot tops being disturbed. Any one else on site affected by them? I always weed in the evening or push the fleece back a little at a time to avoid the fly. Carrot fly don't usually leave holes but more a red coloured trail. It could be slugs under ground those horrid little black/grey ones. I find sowing carrot thinly so as to avoid thinning the best way and keep them covered as much as you can at all times. I don't advocate the use of slug pellets mainly because of wildlife that eat them and even if you cover the bait they still make their way out to be eaten. I use beer traps set in the soil that catches the big ones. I am starting to think the big slugs are not as much of a problem as the underground ones. You can make slug traps at home if you do a search it will show how to make and use them it's easy. Other ways are to leave covers of wood or some such as the slugs go under for shade them you can deal with them. Get a good book like Dr Hesayons (The Vegeatable Expert) and you will learn a great deal and your fellow gardeners shouldn't mind your questions. Good luck and I hope you enjoy a fascinating hobby. Hope this helps and never get down hearted and give up. Wait till you start composting that's another subject. Don't be afraid to ask questions on here as there are a great many knowledgeable people on here who are willing to help and advise. I will look out for your plots site as it is nice to see how others do things and get some tips. I'm still learning after 30 years. I visit Spalding from time to time but I've never been to Boston. Will have to visit the town some time.

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