bad weather and slugs

[Eternal Sunshine]

This year the slugs have won...due to the wet weather.

To keep them down you need to remove anything that they can hide under, raised beds, slabs and long grass paths.

I heard on the radio that the slug population has doubled this year. I was at the allotment yesterday & found some massive ones - yuk!

Half our plot is covered with black plastic which they seem to love living underneath unfortunately.

[Eternal Sunshine]

Does anyone know if I can sow turnip seeds straight in the ground at the moment or should I sow them at home in pots and plant the out in the allotment when they are big enough to withstand the pests?

[Percy T]

Lucky for me hazel I though of salt as I have a free supplier of it by the sack load but shhhhh dont let on

[Fred Perry]

hI Ya, Percy T.
I saw a program where this lady got used coffe grounds and spread them around the plants quite thickly. The Slugs cannot get a good grip and produce to much slime and dehydrate, so they try to get off the area. Oh yes it was Gardener's World last week, the update with the resident head gardener. So if you have access to a coffe shop it might be worth a try asking for coffe ground waste.


I Prepared a raised bed, placed potted peas in bed. Made a 3ft frame with
1"x 1" x 4ft wooden stakes then strung the stakes in all directions. Surrounded frame with fleece and top cover with fleece secured by drawing pins.

When peas matured, took fleece top off then a few weeks later reduced sides to half height.
This kept the birds off and gave an excellent early crop considering I live on the North East coast.
I am going to try this next year for Carrots as companion planting with Onions, Marigolds and Shallots didn’t do so well.
All the best to all
Fred Perry
North East Coast.

[Skotch]

I heard on the radio that the slug population has doubled this year. I was at the allotment yesterday & found some massive ones - yuk!

Half our plot is covered with black plastic which they seem to love living underneath unfortunately.

This is something I think could be beneficial to getting rid of them humanely. Lay down the plastic - it creates a warm damp area which slugs and snails love. After a few days, lift off the plastic and collect up the slugs and snails and take to wherever you can (prefereably not onto adjoining plot!). Keep repeating and the problem will diminish - I don't think it will ever go away though

Skotch

[Sebbster]

Does anyone know if I can sow turnip seeds straight in the ground at the moment or should I sow them at home in pots and plant the out in the allotment when they are big enough to withstand the pests?

Sown them direct Sunshine, and thin as soon as possible as turnips do not like root disturbance, which is why you shouldn't start them in modules.

They grow very fast and evenly, so I would also stagger sow them.