An ugly sight met my eyes yesterday morning-
The slugs had obviously had a jubilee street party of their own! My dealings with slugs as best summed up in the novel title “The Forever War” and one I can’t seem to win. My carefully tended veg end up as supper far too often. I try to garden organically and won’t use nasty chemicals on my nemesis. Any suggestions welcome. Yesterday saw me doing a little mending-
Finally, last night saw me unpack something I had bought to celebrate the Jubilee ( well it was a great excuse) and this morning will see me try and set it up, give it its initial firing and not set the Duchy aflame . It will be used first properly tomorrow. Any advice most welcome. It seems far too technical for me but I have my youngest on hand to help too, wish us luck!
I suppose you have tried traps like beer and protections like sharp stones or copper. My failure was always with lupins which the foe love. I grow mine now in pots with copper tape around them.
ReplyDeleteStephen
My lupine are under assault as we speak. Planted last year, a few have survived to hold their own. I tried growing loads in pots last year which worked well but I have four biggish raised beds which I am reluctant to ignore.
DeleteAlan
We are having exactly the same slug problem and do not use slug pellets because of the thrushes, frogs in the wildlife pond and hedgehogs. Copper tape might help on containers but on plants in the ground it is a struggle. Midnight slug and snail patrol seems to help.
ReplyDeleteSome fine figures worth rescuing.
Any notable Ducal traditional pizza recipes for your camp kitchen?
Shouldn’t that be Good, Bad and Slugly?
Delete👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
DeleteMight try a midnight raid…
DeleteHaven’t tried one yet. The good the bad…excellent
DeleteAlan
I think I once saw a film of a slug or snail happily crawling over a razor blade! My advice is to regularly look under pots and pot rims, rocks etc, along the hidden sides of bricks and collect the snails and slugs and dispose of them - I generally swash them.
DeleteBeer traps do work and the marinated mess can be used for fertilizer!
Ducks eat them but then they will eat your leafy crops or squash them too. Rats also eat them but also other things such as your fruit and are probably not to be encouraged!
You need too weed regularly to eliminate places they hide in.
Growing plants in raised troughs and pots is one way to easily watch for pests but not everything grows in such smaller containers.
Much food for thought here as opposed to food for slugs
DeleteAlan
Wood ash around the plants is supposed to help, although I am not sure how many pizzas you will be 'forced' to eat in order to get enough ash !! (and, like many, it needs renewing after heavy rain)
ReplyDeleteUsed to try dried egg shell broken up or coffee grounds but to no avail. Tried a little wood ash yesterday , haven’t checked it yet. I fear too many pizzas would be needed..😊
DeleteAlan
I remember being tempted by those Ooni pizza ovens at the Hampton Court Flower Show a few years back. Finnish company. But the price was a bit too rich considering we would hardly use it. Especially when you add in the pellets.
ReplyDeleteToday’s the first pizza making, we shall see how it goes…
DeleteAlan
P.S always wanted to go to Chelsea, watched it on telly for years . I have decided with my middle daughter to go together next year…
Alan
Several old Russian recipes. They write that needles, small walnut shells, wood ash - poured in the form of paths that block the path, help against these barbarians. Plants can be sprayed with a decoction of hot pepper and tar.
ReplyDeleteInteresting ideas , new to me thanks for posting.
DeleteAlan
Sorry I can't help with the slugly pests...I expect there is some predator you could introduce to control them naturally....but I woukd just poison them I am afraid...not very pc or organic, I know!
ReplyDeleteNematode worms can be sprayed on in water . They are predators. I looked into it and it seemed expensive. Maybe time for some more research.
ReplyDeleteAlan
We have nematodes on order to deal with a slug and vine wee il problem. I will let you know ...
ReplyDeleteIt ism great to see the old hollowcast repaired.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I feel a sense of privilege in being able to do this…
DeleteAlan
Slugs are a menace in our garden too. We've tried night-time collecting but lost count at 40+ !! Eggshells scattered round the plants seems to have worked with one plant though so might be worth a try
ReplyDeleteSounds fun. Reminds me of the “Were going on a bear hunt”: book of my children’s youth but rather more vile :)
ReplyDeleteAlan