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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: tabbycat on January 04, 2007, 16:11:09

Title: Do slugs & snails eat herbs?
Post by: tabbycat on January 04, 2007, 16:11:09
Do they keep away because they don't like the strong taste or do they just go for it anyway and decimate them like they do everything else?

I'm wondering what to put in the bed that's right next-door to the compost heap and if herbs aren't on the menu for slugs, then that's what I'll plant.

Don't see any sense in planting anything tempting right next to where they all hang out  ;D

Tabby



Title: Re: Do slugs & snails eat herbs?
Post by: Larkspur on January 04, 2007, 16:30:14
Hi, I've never known them touch mint, rosemary or thyme ;) but I wouldn't vouch for them or any other herbs next to a compost heap.
Title: Re: Do slugs & snails eat herbs?
Post by: saddad on January 04, 2007, 16:56:19
I have a small herb bed near my bins and apart from a sacrificial comfrey and self sown borage they leave it alone. They also seem to detest Buckler leaved (French) Sorrel which self set along the front of the bins and makes a nice tangy salad addition but needs washing!
 ;D
Title: Re: Do slugs & snails eat herbs?
Post by: Georgie on January 04, 2007, 20:00:41
They rarely eat chives or garlic chives but they do eat parsley, coriander and basil in my experience.

G x
Title: Re: Do slugs & snails eat herbs?
Post by: kt. on January 04, 2007, 22:00:10
I have only ever grown mint. It grows in abundance and has never suffered from any pest disease at all.   Touch wood :o
Title: Re: Do slugs & snails eat herbs?
Post by: Mrs Ava on January 04, 2007, 22:50:27
They graze off my basil as it germinates in the greenhouse......slimey critters!
Title: Re: Do slugs & snails eat herbs?
Post by: Georgie on January 04, 2007, 22:53:25
EJ, have you noticed they seem to go for the green leaved basil rather than the purple stuff?

G x
Title: Re: Do slugs & snails eat herbs?
Post by: tabbycat on January 05, 2007, 09:50:52
Thanks for the observations.... it would seem that they don't like the really "woody" or "oniony" herbs but like the soft leaved annual ones.

Maybe I'll put all the really offputting herbs right next to the heap in a deep barrier and hope that they don't attempt to venture through it to get to the tasty stuff

(i know that's just wishful thinking though.... they'll yomp through anything to get at nice tender seedlings  ::))

Tabby
Title: Re: Do slugs & snails eat herbs?
Post by: Mrs Ava on January 05, 2007, 18:47:29
I have never successfully germinated the purple basil Georgie....or do the snails feast on mine before I spot it is through!!!!????
Title: Re: Do slugs & snails eat herbs?
Post by: Georgie on January 05, 2007, 19:48:08
I have never successfully germinated the purple basil Georgie....or do the snails feast on mine before I spot it is through!!!!????

I've grown dark opal these last few years but next year I'm trying red ruben.  Will happily send you some seeds or seedlings if you like?

G x
Title: Re: Do slugs & snails eat herbs?
Post by: Multiveg on January 05, 2007, 22:23:47
I do notice slimy molluscs on the allium family, but probably because they have an instinct to climb up!
Parsley succumbs to them. Basil had holes in last year.
Title: Re: Do slugs & snails eat herbs?
Post by: Mrs Ava on January 05, 2007, 22:31:51
ooo Georgie......you temptress! ;D
Title: Re: Do slugs & snails eat herbs?
Post by: MattD on January 06, 2007, 10:14:22
Whenever I plant thyme it is reduced to a bare patch covered in slime in a couple of nights.

Presumably the slugs and snails would taste of the herbs they had just eaten. javascript:replaceText(' ;)', document.forms.postmodify.message);
Wink

Thyme would be good for a French style escargot, basil perhaps for thai snails.

Title: Re: Do slugs & snails eat herbs?
Post by: mc55 on January 06, 2007, 21:33:02
hmm, my herbs are the only things that the slugs haven't munched - but they are in a gravel path, so maybe thats why.

I've heard that slugs detest lavender, something to do with the oil - perhaps you could use that as a barrier between your herbs and the compost area ?
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