Organic gardening, cold frames and slug pellets

[moonbells]

Here's something I'd like to get opinions on.

If one has a cold frame stuffed with seedlings, and one is organic because you don't want to hurt beneficial organisms, is it acceptable to scatter slug pellets around the base of the seed trays?

Dead slugs/snails won't be able to get out of the frame and so birds etc won't be able to get at them. My frame is on a concrete base, so the chemicals can't end up in the soil.

After chucking out another clump of snails over the weekend, and wondering if yet again I'm not going to get any PSB next year cos they've been munched, I'm thinking I can use pellets under these circumstances?

moonbells

[moonbells]

[katynewbie]

 :-\

Have been having a worry about the same thing. Decided that it's ok because nothing can get in and eat them. Not strictly organic, but I would really like to eat some of my stuff myself!!

;D

[robkb]

Hi Moonbells,

I try to be vaguely organic but must admit that after losing 3 sweet peppers and several brussels sprout seedlings in one night I did put down some of the 'organic' pellets (Growing Success make them, I think). Seems to be working, although I'm still doing the nightly round with a torch just to make sure!

Cheers,
Rob ;)

[tim]

'Scatter' - steady now! A FEW.

Organic? They don't touch your plants. Wildlife can't get at them. Forget 'organic' pellets - just cover them.
That's what we do. Organic!!

[moonbells]

:-)

Yes, one every 6" isn't it? You ought to see my allotment neighbour - I swear the ground's blue! The bottom of the "frame" doesn't have plants - it's too dim.

I also need them on the shelves - my frame's actually a polycarbonate mini-greenhouse, and the darn snails crawl up on the outside and in the top hatch -  but that should be easy enough to fix. Only other solution I can come up with is netting over the hatch, but attaching it so I can easily shut it at night's another problem... and the wood's warped!

moonbells

[sandersj89]

Have you thought about adding a strip of copper around the edges of the frame?

This is meant to deter the slugs/snails very effectively. Might also work on the greenhouse?

Jerry

[moonbells]

Have you thought about adding a strip of copper around the edges of the frame?

This is meant to deter the slugs/snails very effectively. Might also work on the greenhouse?

Jerry

I have thought about just that. Trouble is the back of the frame's aganst a fence... so I'd have to tape all the sides and top too!

Haven't been out and put any pellets in yet as I'm not sure if I still have any - been organic for so long!

moonbells