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Produce => Non Edible Plants => Topic started by: Georgie on October 15, 2008, 16:31:13
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I've seen an advert for slug-resistant Hostas and wondered if anyone has tried them with any success? I don't believe it for one minute (cynic moi?) but the varieties offered are H. 'Big Daddy', H. 'Invincible' and H. tokudama.
G x
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I've ordered them. No idea if they work or not but they can fill the spaces left by the ones that definitely don't work!
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I find Hosta 'Sum and Substance' is relatively slug proof.
It has thick ribbed leaves with very fine hairs - slugs dont find it as tasty as other plants.
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They are not slug resistant, it is just that because they have large thick tough leaves the slugs prefer to eat more palatable material.
I have about 30 different varieties of Hostas and they are all in pots. Liberal applications of slug pellets starting early in the growing season means that there has been no slug damage for years.
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Gardening Which? is doing a trial of hostas at the moment at Capel Manor, to test their slug resistance. I expect the results will be published next year.
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Thank you for all your replies. I don't use slug pellets but I think I might give these varieties a try using other (non-chemical) control methods.
Hopalong, thanks for that information. I'm just down the road from Capel Manor so if the weather is nice on Sunday I might just have a wander up there and take a look. :)
G x
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Hopalong, thanks for that information. I'm just down the road from Capel Manor so if the weather is nice on Sunday I might just have a wander up there and take a look. :)
G x
You may not see very much of the hostas, Georgie. They are either dying down or the slugs have got them! But the autumn colour at Capel Manor is absolutely fantastic. You are lucky to live so close.
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You may not see very much of the hostas, Georgie. They are either dying down or the slugs have got them! But the autumn colour at Capel Manor is absolutely fantastic. You are lucky to live so close.
Pah! My daughter has just informed me that the weather forecast for tomorrow is grim. >:( Looks like I might have to save the autumn colour for another day. ::)
G x
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I take on board Toadspawn's comments re: these particular varieties, and also take on board the fact that 'they' (sorry :-[ no idea if he or she) grow hostas in pots. I don't have a great variety of hostas....scrap that! I've got ONE variety of hosta which is now divided between 14 pots/tubs ::) and I find that this is the way for stress-free growing in a suburban garden. Without the use of pellets, if the soil is well-seived then crushed seasoned eggshells are added to the growing compost in the tubs, the tubs then top-dressed with either more eggshells or stones AND, as another barrier, a smearing of something like vaseline is put round the tub edge.....?
I don't know much about 'pretty' gardening, but these tubs can get moved around and always perform really well. I also think that the tender new shoots are at most particular risk to slug damage & this is the time I get all my defences lined up....rest of the year they do their own not-slug-damaged thang....me, I'm busier in the veggie plot to worry about them :-\
Find them most obliging 8)
Of course, I eat a lot of eggs... ;D
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I've seen an advert for slug-resistant Hostas
G x
Now where's the challenge in that! ;)
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Thanks, Lish. They will be in pots which I will top dress with horticultural grit. We don't eat many eggs here but I guess I could get my hands on some eggshells if adding them to the soil is going to help. I've tried the vaseline trick, coffee grounds and copper tape in the past for other susceptable plants but haven't found them very effective. But what I will do is grow sacrificial plants nearby, probably Tagetes, then go out with the torch and bucket at dusk if need be.
LOL@Anne. Some challenges I can do without. ;D
G x
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Georgie
I was at Capel Manor today and had a quick look at the Gardening Which? Hosta trial bed. It was covered in mushroom compost, presumably to improve alkalinity. A lot of the hostas had died down, although some of those with fleshier blue-green leaves seemed to be going strong still. No surprises there. Didn't get names - sorry!
Someone said the bed had been attacked by deer earlier in the year and had to be fenced around, so it does not sound like a very well controlled or successful trial.
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Georgie
I was at Capel Manor today and had a quick look at the Gardening Which? Hosta trial bed. It was covered in mushroom compost, presumably to improve alkalinity. A lot of the hostas had died down, although some of those with fleshier blue-green leaves seemed to be going strong still. No surprises there. Didn't get names - sorry!
Someone said the bed had been attacked by deer earlier in the year and had to be fenced around, so it does not sound like a very well controlled or successful trial.
Hmm, that's interesting, Hopalong. Earlier in the year I was chatting to a couple of folks there who were repairing the wicker unicorns and they mentioned something about the Which? trials no longer being properly funded and that they might either move or be stopped. I have no idea where they got this information from but I have to say I've not been overly impressed by the trials when I've been there. I've never seen anyone working on them or making records for instance. In fact there rarely seems to be anyone around them apart from the paying public so I do wonder about the control/security aspects.
Anyway how was the autumn colour? I didn't get there yesterday unfortunately.
G x
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Georgie
Anyway how was the autumn colour? I didn't get there yesterday unfortunately.
G x
Autumn colour is still pretty good in places, Georgie, although lots of leaves have now fallen. Parthenocissus tricuspidata (Boston Ivy) along the wall near the house is stunning bright red.
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I couldnt not reply could I !! ;)
Mine are mostly in pots too. I agree its best to get in there at the first sign of new growth to protect them from slugs, after that they seem to do okay.
Havent heard of this trial. Be interesting to hear how it went - if it went that is !
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I couldnt not reply could I !! ;)
Mine are mostly in pots too. I agree its best to get in there at the first sign of new growth to protect them from slugs, after that they seem to do okay.
Havent heard of this trial. Be interesting to hear how it went - if it went that is !
LOL@Hosta. I take it the new growth is around April?
G x
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Yes'ish Depends where you live LOL
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Well, the three bare-rooted little beauties arrived today looking very healthy. I'll pot them up tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed. :)
G x
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Well, the three bare-rooted little beauties arrived today looking very healthy. I'll pot them up tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed. :)
G x
Okay I've read up on how to do it but I can't find any advice on how deep to plant them. Do I leave the cut back stem just above the surface then mulch?
G x
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I have never planted them bare rooted but I guess just plant to the base of the stem.This will probbally rot down now. :)
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Leave the crown at ground level; the stems will rot down soon enough. Put it somewhere shady; in the hot summer a couple of years ago, I found that hostas sailed through anywhere shady, but any in full sun were killed off.
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Thanks folks. :)
G x
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Just potted mine up too.
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You just reminded me that I hadnt sent away for the same Free 3 hostas from GW magazine. Been on and done it now, but they are not being sent out till February.
Good luck with them ! :)
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Oooo, we'll be able to compare notes, Ceres and Hosta. :)
G x
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We bought a hosta called 'June' from the Garden House last year that was sold as slug resistant. And last summer it wasn't touched despite the mollusc plague. This year not quite so good as it did get a bit nibbled but nowhere near as much as my other hostas.
'June' is a smaller type of slug resistant hosta (unlike some of the others mentioned that tend to be big plants). it has an attractive yellow and blue-green variegation and quite large and significant purple flowers.
Hope this helps
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I thought it was time to post an update. The three 'slug resistant' Hostas I planted out back in the autumn are all showing signs of growing but one, 'Invincible', has had its leading main unfurled leaf almost completely eaten through. Not very well named is it? So far so good with the other two. How are yours doing?
G x
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All three of mine are through aswell, Big Daddy was the last to show his face.
They are all doing well, no sign of anything nibbling them :) - Yet !!
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Slugs eat hostas because they are a delicious leaf.
If you think that they are not edible you deserve to loose them to the slugs and snails.
The leaves are eaten whole, bites taken as you enjoy the rest of the meal.
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Slugs eat hostas because they are a delicious leaf.
If you think that they are not edible you deserve to loose them to the slugs and snails.
The leaves are eaten whole, bites taken as you enjoy the rest of the meal.
How rude. >:(
Anyway, for those of us who are following this trial I've taken pictures of mine today. Here they are:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/georgie_girl15/Garden%20April%2009/P4120007.jpg)
Tokudama - the slow coach
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/georgie_girl15/Garden%20April%2009/P4120006.jpg)
(not so) Invincible
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/georgie_girl15/Garden%20April%2009/P4120005.jpg)
Big Daddy
G x
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Slugs eat hostas because they are a delicious leaf.
If you think that they are not edible you deserve to loose them to the slugs and snails.
The leaves are eaten whole, bites taken as you enjoy the rest of the meal.
How rude. >:(
Anyway, for those of us who are following this trial I've taken pictures of mine today. Here they are:
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/georgie_girl15/Garden%20April%2009/P4120007.jpg)
Tokudama - the slow coach
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/georgie_girl15/Garden%20April%2009/P4120006.jpg)
(not so) Invincible
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/georgie_girl15/Garden%20April%2009/P4120005.jpg)
Big Daddy
G x
How sanctimonious
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Very good thread Georgie ;D
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You've reminded me to go and have a look for mine. I can't remember where I put them! Can you tell I don't 'do' non-edibles ;)
They're looking good Georgie, even Invincible hasn't been stripped bare so there's hope yet......
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You've reminded me to go and have a look for mine. I can't remember where I put them! Can you tell I don't 'do' non-edibles ;)
They're looking good Georgie, even Invincible hasn't been stripped bare so there's hope yet......
LOL Ceres! They seem very slow to me but as I've never grown them before I don't know if that's normal.
I hope you find yours and also that others who took advantage of the offer report back on how theirs are doing soon.
G x
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Slugs eat hostas because they are a delicious leaf.
If you think that they are not edible you deserve to loose them to the slugs and snails.
The leaves are eaten whole, bites taken as you enjoy the rest of the meal.
Aww zigzig, of course we all know that slugs love to eat Hostas - and we dont think for a minute they are not edible and we certainly dont 'deserve' to lose them due to ignorance of that fact !!
What we are doing here is testing out the claim that these Hostas are supposed to be slug-resistant.
Georgie, mine are doing fine so far and look about similar size to yours :)
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They not only taste nice to the slug, they keep the same leaves all season. So once something's had a nibble, the nibble just stays there, while so many plants grow new leaves, and it disappears after a while. I still haven't replaced the ones I lost in the drought three years ago, so I'm watching this thread with interest!
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I've always found that boiling up two big bulbs of garlic (peeled first) and spraying liberally over the plants, then surrounding the hosta with a mulch of coffee grounds sends the slugs running....
www.fennelandfern.co.uk
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I like the blog, but you could save yourself a bit of bother by putting the URL in your signature.
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Big Daddy is growing for me 2 leaves one with nibbles but no sign of the other 2
lbb
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I've always found that boiling up two big bulbs of garlic (peeled first) and spraying liberally over the plants, then surrounding the hosta with a mulch of coffee grounds sends the slugs running....
www.fennelandfern.co.uk
That's interesting. I've used a garlic spray on aphid infestations before but hadn't heard of it as a slug deterrant. I've never found coffee grounds effective, sadly.
Big Daddy is growing for me 2 leaves one with nibbles but no sign of the other 2
lbb
Oh dear, LBB, that doesn't sound good. :(
G x
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Found them!
Tokudama is way behind, just beginning to unfurl the first leaves. Invincible has a tiny bit of nibbling but it actually looks like they taste it then leave it alone. Big Daddy is untouched. Not too bad so far!
[attachment=1]
[attachment=2]
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Looking good, Ceres. ;D
G x
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Im trying coffee grounds around mine this year
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Im trying coffee grounds around mine this year
I've never found barrier methods very effective but I wish you luck with your trial. :)
G x
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I think copper bands are the best. Tried copper based sticky tape a couple of years ago for pots and at least 2 pots are still fully protected by it. Recently bought some actual copper bands to go around 'at risk' plants, not just hostas and these look very promising, of a little more expensive than other methods. You could make your own rings or bands using the tape and recycled plastic from drinks bottles if you want to save a bit of money.
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Okay, here's an update on mine. G x
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/georgie_girl15/Garden%20May%2009/P5010037.jpg)
Big Daddy
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/georgie_girl15/Garden%20May%2009/P5010038.jpg)
Tokudama
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/georgie_girl15/Garden%20May%2009/P5010039.jpg)
Invincible
They are all in 10 inch pots. Very little sign of slug/snail damage on any of them but invincible is looking pretty pathetic compared to the other two.
G x
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Can I ask how your hostas are doing? Mine have been well and truly munched this year, partly due to me me forgetting to go slug and snail hunting, so I'd be interested to see how "resistant" they are
Thanks
1066
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mine have been well and truely sluged, all 3 did come through in the end but invincible was pathetic and is now gone , the fat slugs loved it, big daddy did ok and i will get some more of him, the other one grew ok and has some holes
lbb
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Thanks LBB, I'll look out for some Big Daddy then. Shame about the others ...
1066
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I've got a few different varieties of Hosta, including Big Daddy. I've had them for about 10 yrs and have become something of a reluctant expert on how to keep the slugs and snails off !
I've tried: egg shells, coffee grindings, dog hair, vermiculite, sand, hort grit, copper bands, pellets under saucers, traps and sheep's wool pellets. In my garden (in which slugs and snails arrive by the coachload) the best course of action has been: Start early, as soon as the shoots start to emerge and after rain I cover the area with a liberal sprinkling of sheeps wool pellets and put a copper band around the lot. As the sheep wool expands in the rain it forms a mat keeping moisture in and the slugs don't like it one bit, it's not worth them struggling over the copper to get to ! But by far the best way of at least keeping the numbers down is to go out at night after rain and hand pick them off, on a good night you'll need a bucket. Frogs are very helpful, but just don't have big enough appetites, between us we keep the Hostas from turning to lace until at least the second half of summer.
Having done battle with the molluscs for years and frightened my neighbours when dressed in pyjamas with a torch and a bucket of slugs, I've decided enough is enough and the Hosta collection is going to have to go.
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Since I moved mine to the really shady area (read slug/snail mansions) I'm afraid mine haven't faired so well. Invincible is down to about one leaf and Tokudama has been seriously eaten too. That said, both Tokudama and Big Daddy have sent up attractive flower stalks. Big Daddy is fairing by far the best with only the odd small hole.
I deliberately didn't use any deterrants to test their resistance. So my conclusion is that only Big Daddy is really 'resistant' but I'm sure with intervention Tokudama would fair well too. I wouldn't give 'Invincible' house room again.
G x
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Georgie thanks for your reply, so it does seem like Big Daddy can withstand attack ..... with a bit of care.
I've decided enough is enough and the Hosta collection is going to have to go.
What a shame, but I can understand it, all that effort and time!
1066
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Had a look at mine yesterday....... They are all damage free !!
Strangely enough, none of my other Hostas have been touched either. I havent used any protection against slugs this year and they are all planted in a long raised bed. The only difference this year is we have been doing some hardscaping and maybe the slugs havent realised there is a feast there yet !!