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DIY on Strawberry protection
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Topic: DIY on Strawberry protection (Read 10743 times)
kenkew
Hectare
Posts: 4,336
Don't look now but...
DIY on Strawberry protection
«
on:
June 14, 2004, 12:55:24 »
Straw under berries keeps them off the ground but gives bugs a perfect home. I'm trying this: From a roll of secondhand lino I cut a piece about a foot square, a wiggly cut to the centre and a hole. The lino has a natural bend to it due to being rolled up and is a snug fit over a mound of soil. I use the under side which isn't as smooth as the surface side so I'm hoping the slugs won't like to go over it. You could argue that I'm also giving them a home, but having lost quite a few strawberries to slugs already, and not seeing a sign of a slug during the day, if they are hiding under the lino, I have 'em!
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Last Edit: June 14, 2004, 12:57:06 by kenkew
»
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kenkew
Hectare
Posts: 4,336
Don't look now but...
Re:DIY on Strawberry protection
«
Reply #1 on:
June 14, 2004, 12:58:47 »
Waste not want not....the lino from the middle bit make great plant labels and hung out on a line, bird scarers.
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Jesse
Hectare
Posts: 1,970
Re:DIY on Strawberry protection
«
Reply #2 on:
June 14, 2004, 13:06:49 »
KK, let us know if it works. I've been thinking of something along similar lines to keep the slugs away from my plants. I had a similar idea in mind but was trying to find a "material" with a rough surface, something like coarse sandpaper but obviously that would be too expensive.
Your strawberries look very yummy! :)
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derbex
Hectare
Posts: 1,281
I've come about the reaping
Re:DIY on Strawberry protection
«
Reply #3 on:
June 16, 2004, 16:25:29 »
You could make your own sandpaper with sand cardboard and glue (or old paint, varnish &c.) -that's what I do for the antislip on boats and boards.
I grow mine through permeable membrane -mainly because the bed wan't really ready when I planted them and haven't had any trouble with slugs -probably because they're all too busy eating the everything else in the bed (only the strawbs are membraned)
Jeremy
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Jesse
Hectare
Posts: 1,970
Re:DIY on Strawberry protection
«
Reply #4 on:
June 16, 2004, 16:45:12 »
Thanks for the suggestion Jeremy, I might just give that a try. :)
I bought some of that animal friendly snail killer (because I have hedgehogs in my garden) and the slugs just crawled over it and carried on eating my plants. >:(
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Green fingers are the extension of a verdant heart - Russell Page
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derbex
Hectare
Posts: 1,281
I've come about the reaping
Re:DIY on Strawberry protection
«
Reply #5 on:
June 16, 2004, 17:11:43 »
I found that eggshells work as well as 'Slug Stoppa' -except we don't eat that many eggs (the consequences would be too horrible to think about ;D)
Jeremy
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Debs
Hectare
Posts: 1,506
If at first you don't succeed, try and try again!!
Re:DIY on Strawberry protection
«
Reply #6 on:
June 19, 2004, 19:56:09 »
I have put some horticultural grit around my strawbs.
They are growing nicely, fingers crossed that it stays that way ;D
Debs
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kenkew
Hectare
Posts: 4,336
Don't look now but...
Re:DIY on Strawberry protection
«
Reply #7 on:
June 21, 2004, 11:57:15 »
OK! It's a week since I put the 'lino' mats around the strawberries. At the same time I picked and threw away lots of slug bitten ones. Yesterday I checked them again. Not one strawberry showed slug damage! The lino mats worked; Well, they have so far. Maybe the slugs are having a council of war to decide on a plan to reach the strawberries without having to touch the lino.
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busy_lizzie
Hectare
Posts: 3,299
Izzy wizzy lets get busy! Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear
Re:DIY on Strawberry protection
«
Reply #8 on:
June 21, 2004, 13:08:11 »
This seems like a very good idea Ken. I have got straw under my strawberries, but I am not happy with it, as it is such an arbour for slugs which can't be seen. In fact I think it attracts them - a nice comfy cosy little nest for them.
Will have to look around for something I can make a collar out of. What I want is a Skip with a roll of lino in it ;D busy_lizzie
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live your days not count your years
Doris_Pinks
Hectare
Posts: 5,430
Re:DIY on Strawberry protection
«
Reply #9 on:
June 21, 2004, 13:27:05 »
BL, ask at your local carpet shop if they have any offcuts they are throwing away, or find yourself a friendly carpet layer! ;D DP
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We don't inherit the earth, we only borrow it from our children.
Blog:
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TrailRat
Half Acre
Posts: 249
I like the feel of dirt in my teeth
Re:DIY on Strawberry protection
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Reply #10 on:
June 24, 2004, 05:49:08 »
Where I work they sell this copper mesh that consist of 1 and a half inch squares. I laid down some of this in my mum's garden and not only does it look good, it also keep the slugs of her flowerbeds. Very expensive though for a whole allotment.
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If it weren't for beer and sex than cycling would be the best thing in the world.
kenkew
Hectare
Posts: 4,336
Don't look now but...
Re:DIY on Strawberry protection
«
Reply #11 on:
June 24, 2004, 12:09:43 »
Went to the plot this morning. Dispatched 7 hugh slugs....but none were anywhere near the strawberries. (Reminder to spend wet days making lino mats.)
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Spurdie
Acre
Posts: 420
Re:DIY on Strawberry protection
«
Reply #12 on:
June 25, 2004, 21:40:06 »
Hi, all! I have my strawberries growing in 2 pots - smaller one stacked on top of bigger one - and slugs can't be bothered to crawl up! I had a good crop last year by planting some tom thumbs in between the strawberry plants. The big tom thumb leaves hid the berries from the birds and of course the combination of red berries and orange & yellow flowers looked great! :)
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Debs
Hectare
Posts: 1,506
If at first you don't succeed, try and try again!!
Re:DIY on Strawberry protection
«
Reply #13 on:
June 26, 2004, 12:39:33 »
Update re horticultural grit...
It has worked a treat :D
Strawbs are fruiting nicely, just need a good dose of geordie sunshine to ripen them.
PS Got my grit from Peter Barratts - £3. 50 ish per bag which was enough to surround 15 plants.
Debs
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