Allotments 4 All

Slugs have eating my perpetual spinach :'( We had so much rain yesterday I was only expecting good things  :'( but ooooh no ......the slugs have been having a field day  :'(

ho hum
::)

Duke

Why don't you use pellets.  The organic ferramol based ones are brilliant and they're not harmful to other wildlife or children.  Growing Success, blue tub, £3.49, Wilko's.

I will get some today ceres....I guess its okay to leave the spinach to maybe grow again as its perpetual.

Duke

Yes, it should come back again - if you can keep the little b*****s off.

I'm a a lifelong animal lover, 15 years veggie and after many failed methods I now use organic pellets. Feel a bit guilty, but slugs have nothing going for them.

I even talked to a tearful 4 year old the other day, crying that she'd lost her pet ladybird. To cheer her up we listed all the insects that she loves (apparently she's obsessed, her dad tells me) . After a lengthy list I asked her about slugs and she fixed me with a horrified stare and squirmed, "Oh no!"

I rest my case.

Quote from: medicinejack on July 07, 2008, 18:40:34
.........slugs have nothing going for them.

Even slugs have important roles in the ecosystem (and not just at the bottom of my pond where I store them).
http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/1998/special.html

After reading that article, I realise that slugs are just like the British press - they build things up to knock them down.

Quote from: ceres on July 07, 2008, 10:35:35
Why don't you use pellets.  The organic ferramol based ones are brilliant and they're not harmful to other wildlife or children.  Growing Success, blue tub, £3.49, Wilko's.

I've tried the organic pellets and am still trying. I desperately want them to work but they don't seem to do so. Nematodes (Nemaslug from Green Gardener and other suppliers) are expensive but seem to be the most effective organic method of slug control in my experience.  Problem is that they don't work well on snails.

Not all organic pellets are the same - have you got the ferramol based ones?  I've used them on the snails in my garden and the slugs on my plot and I swear by them.

Have you tried the instant coffee method?
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,39258.msg390373.html#msg390373

watering in the early morning, rather than in the evening helps. Also avoid growing susceptible plants were slugs tend to go or come from - the edges of the plot and near the compost bins for us

Has anyone here tried the garlic slug repellent wash ??

Duke

Quote from: ceres on July 08, 2008, 12:25:41
Not all organic pellets are the same - have you got the ferramol based ones?  I've used them on the snails in my garden and the slugs on my plot and I swear by them.

Yes, I use the ferramol, organically approved ones.  Others on my allotment site also find them rather ineffective.  It may be because we have heavy clay or perhaps because we have super slugs.

Quote from: Baccy Man on July 07, 2008, 19:25:10

Quote from: medicinejack on July 07, 2008, 18:40:34
.........slugs have nothing going for them.

Even slugs have important roles in the ecosystem (and not just at the bottom of my pond where I store them).
http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/1998/special.html

A friend of a friend used to collect slugs and snails and put them on his compost heap.  They tended to stay there.  This article helps to explain why that would work.

Quote from: Duke Ellington on July 08, 2008, 14:22:39
Has anyone here tried the garlic slug repellent wash ??

Duke

a friend of a friend swears by it says he never ever has a problem with slugs but this is in his flower garden not veg so cant comment uses one bulb per 5 gallon boiled 30 min left to cool then with a watering can over the plants weekly

Thanks Daileg I will try it and report back

Duke

ps who is that person in your photo? everytime i see it i feel like I should pray!!

duke im not impressed as your dont know who kurt cobane is from Nirvanna !!!!!!!!!! ???

I must do something to regain my street cred!!

Duke