Making your own slug nematodes - anyone tried it??

**veggiechicken** · 29-03-2012, 06:31 PM

What's the recipe? I do know that drowned slugs that have been left to soak for a week or so stink!

**marchogaeth** · 29-03-2012, 06:47 PM

Originally posted by pipscariad View Post

I've been down at the plot all day and have collected up about 50 slugs to put into a 'brew' (yeuch), so will give it a go, but if anyone has already tried this method I'd be really interested to hear about it....

The local biodynamic farm (Plas Dwbl) do something like this, I never understood the logic so you have made that connection for me, thanks. However, I'm not sure exactly what they do. I thought they just kept adding slugs to a bucket of water and then watered all their plants with it.

I have just checked in Gertrude Frank's "Companion Planting" ISBN 0-7225-0694-5 and she says.

drop slugs and snails into boiling water
let it stand for few days until it smells strongly
water around endangered crops

She also says to lay the dead bodies between the rows as a deterrent, effective for several weeks as they decompose.

Pob lwc! Might try this now, slugs starting to appear in tunnel but not enough to justify buying nematodes yet.

**Piggle** · 29-03-2012, 06:59 PM

I'm not sure I could drop slugs and snails into boiling water alive ... how terrible.

I know they are a pain and eat everything in sight but still .......

**marchogaeth** · 29-03-2012, 07:10 PM

Originally posted by Piggle View Post

I'm not sure I could drop slugs and snails into boiling water alive ... how terrible.

I know they are a pain and eat everything in sight but still .......

Gertrude says "quicker than a long lingering death from pellets or cold water" (paraphrase) and possibly less painful than a squash.

**Piggle** · 29-03-2012, 07:14 PM

Each to their own moral conscience but it's not something I could do - I'd rather re-locate them to the compost bin.

**veggiechicken** · 29-03-2012, 07:15 PM

I'm so pleased that Gertrud talks to you too, M. Some of the others on here (naming no names) have suggested that I am in touch with the spirit world!

**pipscariad** · 29-03-2012, 08:15 PM

Thanks for the replies - I was v pleased to see that two of you are 'local' too!! I'll post the link (hopefully, that kind of thing isn't my forte!) to the Telegraph article for your interest - no dropping into boiling water here, these are left for a while for the nematode bacteria to move in and get to work. I know it might sound harsh, but I grow my veg for me to eat, not the slugs!
The war on slugs starts at home - Telegraph

I'll let you know how I get on - if it works it'll be brilliant.

**marchogaeth** · 29-03-2012, 08:26 PM

Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post

I'm so pleased that Gertrud talks to you too, M.

I think she talks at me. That might be the translation though. It's a bit in your face.

Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post

Some of the others on here (naming no names) have suggested that I am in touch with the spirit world!

I more in touch with red wine.

**marchogaeth** · 29-03-2012, 08:31 PM

Originally posted by pipscariad View Post

Thanks for the replies - I was v pleased to see that two of you are 'local' too!! I'll post the link (hopefully, that kind of thing isn't my forte!) to the Telegraph article for your interest - no dropping into boiling water here, these are left for a while for the nematode bacteria to move in and get to work. I know it might sound harsh, but I grow my veg for me to eat, not the slugs!
The war on slugs starts at home - Telegraph

I'll let you know how I get on - if it works it'll be brilliant.

The link works fine and looks like a real recipe to work on. It makes a lot more sense than boiling water which I would have thought kills everything, including nematodes.

I wonder if it would be worth buying some nematodes to use in my tunnel, collecting those slugs and building up the nematodes from them?? I have an old fish tank, with a reallys ecure lid that would make a good breeding ground.

Do you have a Preseli then or are you further round? Mine are Foel Drygarn and Carn Alw.

**veggiechicken** · 29-03-2012, 08:34 PM

Hi Pipscariad - don't think we've "met" before. Maybe there'll be some local event that we can all get to and have a real meet!
I can imagine the smell after a fortnight - yuk!! Wonder whether a large milk or water container or a sweetie jar would do. Stuff the leaves and slugs down the neck and put the top back on with a couple of air holes in the top. Give the container a shake, rather than a stir, pour the liquid off through some fine mesh, throw the slug gunk in the compost and put the lid back on for next time.

**salome2001** · 29-03-2012, 11:13 PM

I like the idea of DIY, but on this one I think it's going to be the little plastic boxes for me (needs emoticon that resembles imminent boking)

**veggiechicken** · 30-03-2012, 09:18 AM

Originally posted by marchogaeth View Post

I think she talks at me. That might be the translation though. It's a bit in your face.
I more in touch with red wine.

Gertrud reminds me of my headmistress! I hope she doesn't get in touch or I'll be standing outside her door again after school for some little error

Iechyd Da!!

**veggiechicken** · 30-03-2012, 09:19 AM

Originally posted by salome2001 View Post

I like the idea of DIY, but on this one I think it's going to be the little plastic boxes for me (needs emoticon that resembles imminent boking)

Would it be impolite to ask what "imminent boking" means? The way my mind works.........

**Plot10** · 30-03-2012, 03:56 PM

I like the idea but I think I'd need a stronger stomach for this, I'm feeling distinctly queasy just reading about it.

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Making your own slug nematodes - anyone tried it??

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