Getting rid of slugs?

[cheddarpaul]

Can anyone offer me advice on how to get rid of slugs without the use of (too much) chemical interferance?

My runner-beans have just started to come up and I have noticed a few slug trails on the other side of the lottie. I dont want the little blighters to get at my hard earned veg but at the same time I am trying to do this all organically.

Can anyone offer up some wisdom?

Mucho appreciated.

[cheddarpaul]

[giantseye]

Hi cheddarPaul

I use slug traps, which you fill with old beer ;D

You can buy the traps, but it is easier to make your own from plastic bottles or small plastic sandwich boxes with a hole in it.

Put in a good dose of beer, and the b****rs get drunk and drown ;D :P

You can get nematodes, which you water into your soil, and they finally kill them, But I think that this may be a little expensive for a long period (hopefully someone else will advise on this)

[redimp]

I have about 6 slug traps on my lottie and they have left my cabbages alone preferring to get drunk and then 'sleep' it off.

[waggi]

beer
beer
beer
and salt
and more beer

[Derek]

The Ryton Organic Centre have a whole section on pests.

Apart from traps (as mentioned before) also nematodes they display a piece of slate with bran secreted beneath... I like it as the beer has other uses...I forgot I don't drink alcohol  ;)

Derek

[tamsin]

Last year I used Ready brek, cos slugs are supposed to love it but eating it dries them out. Didn't have too many slug problems but the Ready Brek cost a fortune.

[cheddarpaul]

Did you have to layer the ready brek in mounds or ridges, or just sprinkle it everywhere?

[tamsin]

I kind of packed it round the plants they kept attacking.

[Mubgrub]

I kind of packed it round the plants they kept attacking.

So did it really work?  What plants were they attacking because they seem to have preferences for brassicas, starwberries and runner bean seedlings on my plot.

[tamsin]

We didn't have a lot on last year (we only got the allotment last July) but they were going for our purple sprouting broccoli, swiss chard and perpetual spinach. And there seemed to be significantly less holes in them after I put the ready brek down!

[cheddarpaul]

I was out there last night until 11pm picking the little blighters off of my runner bean shoots. Must have got a good 30+ of the s*ds!!

What about putting the inside of a loo roll around the shoots - would that help? Or what about using a cloche?

I hate to think I will have to resort to using slug pellets :-(

[annieb]

From one of my mates at Garden Web...(I'm also plagued by slugs, and have tried eggshells, pine needles, loo roll collars, coffee grounds, snail pellets, etc)... I'm going to try her suggestion (following).

Here is a sure fire slug destroyer. I used it last summer and fall and killed thousands of the slimey things.
Mix 1 1/2 cup clear ammonia, 1 1/2 cups water and 2 tbsp. Murphy's Oil Soap in a spray bottle. Shake well and go out at dusk with a flashlight. Spray this right on the slugs on the plants. They turn to slime and fall off DEAD!!!! The Oil Soap will remain on the leaves and when the tiny slugs eat it, they die from the trots. Our slug problem last year was so bad, our lawn was even crawling with them. We mixed this in a tank sprayer and DH had to even spray the lawn. This spring, I have only found 1 slug so far and my hostas are big and beautiful. Everyone I tell about this had great results and it's muchg cheaper then slug killer. The ammonia, when mixed with water, is nitrogen and good for the plants. Just be sure to add the water and shake well. We did this for about 5 nights straight, then every few nights after that. Especially use this in the fall at night, when they are out in the grass. We caught alot of them "making whoopie" so to speak. What a way to go!!!!!

Worth a try at least.. I certainly intend to try it.. I am heartily tired of my seedlings being decapitated by the thousands *grrr*.

Annie in Norway

[cheddarpaul]

Thanks but one silly question - where do I buy Murphys Oil Soap?

[annieb]

I've seen it at tesco's and ASDA both... pretty sure Aldi carries/carried it at one point...  It's a vegetable based liquid soap (not detergent), and in a pinch, I suspect that any liquid based 'natural' soap (like Pear's for instance) could be used. 

Unfortunately, it's been 12 years since I've lived in England, so I'm not sure where to point you, but I betcha Boots would have it also...  Once you smell it.. you'll immediately recognise the scent again anywhere... it's a very earthy natural unfussy 'clean' smell... I love the stuff...
It's also very inexpensive and completely biofriendly =) I like that in soap ;)

Annie in Norway

[redimp]

Would this be allowable organically in the same way that things like soft soap are?  Quite interested in the article and if it is allowed, will consider it if I get a big problem.  Also, is ammonia easy to get hold of?

[annieb]

Would this be allowable organically in the same way that things like soft soap are?  Quite interested in the article and if it is allowed, will consider it if I get a big problem.  Also, is ammonia easy to get hold of?

Yes on both counts... Murphy's actually is soft/vegetable soap.  As for ammonia... it's the cleaning stuff that will send you reeling if you get a close whiff of it (in fact it's the active ingredient in most 'smelling salts').. It's used to clean grease and grime off kitchen surfaces and windows, etc,  the one they always warn you not to mix with chlorine bleach (which is good advice since it reacts and produces/liberates chlorine gas.. not healthy! (but perfectly absolutely harmless as long as it's not mixed with chlorine bleach)...

I'm guessing an average sized bottle of cleaning ammonia would set you back 70p or something at the market... I just checked my bottle in the cabinet and it was 6,5 norwegian kroners or around 50p...no real clue how old it is though...


Annie in Norway

PS Not to get too terribly fussy and technical.. but usually you'll find 'plain' ammonia and 'sudsy' ammonia... get the plain unadulterated non-lemony-goodness type ammonia... the sudsy stuff has anionic surfactants and strippers and detergents and who-knows-what added to it...

[cheddarpaul]

I will be out today looking for some Murphys liquid soap, failing that any organic liquid soap. Plus, the ammonia and a cheapie squirtie bottle... Cant let the blighters get all of my seedlings!

Will let you all know how I got on and please, if anyone else does the same, let me know!

[Ceri]

I have found the local ironmongery place sells Household Ammonia (by Jeyes) - I tried my local chemist as somebody advised me, but they said they didn't stock it any more.  It's kept off the shelf as its a bit powerful!  I felt a bit like I should have whispered my request while looking furtively around me!!

[cheddarpaul]

WOW Ceri - you work quickly!!  I also thought that our local 'free trade' organic shop may sell organic liquid soap...will try her later today

[clairenpaul]

Hi cheddarpaul  :)

We always used to use beer but we've found that feeding the birds has made us a slug free zone - i think word must have got our that we always have lots of seed etc out and this year our garden has been full of all sorts of different birds. As a bonus, not one plant has been nibbled. We've only just got started on the lottie this year so we may well need that recipe there if the birds don't help us out.