Soot v Slugs

[sjg12]

A neighbour on our lottie has given me a couple of bags of soot as he swears by it for getting rid of slugs, I have hoed it onto my salad bed and it does seem to work. apparently they don't like the sulphur in the soot so keep away.

It doesn't seem to have any other effect after two weeks everything seems ok, does anyone else use soot or are there are drawbacks i don't know about

[sjg12]

[Kepouros]

In the days when every house had working chimneys and coal fires gardeners used to swear by soot for a variety of purposes - as a slug deterrent, and also as a deterrent for celery fly, as well as being a stimulant for onions.

In addition, it darkens the soil and therefore makes it more heat absorbing, and it contains some nitrogen in the form of ammonia.  The ammonia content varies according to the type of fuel burned - slow burning household coal fires will produce soot with as much as 7% ammonia content - others less.

Make sure that the soot is well weathered - at least 4 months - or it will scorch.

[sjg12]

Thanks for that just wanted to check i was "dining the right thing" our local chimney sweep drops the bags of soot at the entrance to our allotment and it's first come first served I have a couple of bags now so will keep the to one side for a few months.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Put it out to weather; leaving it inside the bag won't mellow it at all.