Holes in my potato leaf!

[mysteryduck]

Is this slug damage? .. I had a bit of a ratch about this afternoon but no slugs/snails to be seen..

[mysteryduck]

Ok.. so I investigated again and found silvery trails on the undersides of the leaves in two potato bags. Hopefully this is the same snail/slug that crossed a leaf bridge. I've pulled the bags apart to remove said leaf bridges but can't find the snail/slug. Worried he has buried under the compost and is now eating the potatoes! Need to add more soil to the bag but don't want to do that until the snail/slug is found... I have some organic slug/snail treatment that looks a bit like porridge oats. Should I sprinkle that around the potatoes? Will it matter that I'm going to add more compost on top of it later?

[nickdub]

One thing to try is to cut an apple or carrot in half, and push the cut sides down in to the top of the compost. With any luck slugs in the bag will find this, so when you examine it again they should be there and can be disposed of.

[mysteryduck]

One thing to try is to cut an apple or carrot in half, and push the cut sides down in to the top of the compost. With any luck slugs in the bag will find this, so when you examine it again they should be there and can be disposed of.

Oh my god!!! Attempting to follow your advice, I ventured out with a halved green pepper. A tiny slug was found on a different potato plant, three other tiny slugs and a giant one found on pebbles, the path, and some ornamental grass... and a small millipede (do we like these?).. Most shockingly of all, three big snails were found on a 3inch potted Rubeckia Russet Glow, which I'd intended to pot on today.. surrounded by 3inch pots of ignored brussels sprouts and kale. It's a veritable infestation! The poor Rubeckia is devastated.. and I'm convinced there's more in the potato bags... The pepper halves are now face down on the path so hopefully I'll catch something...

1. Is it normal to find this many slugs/snails in such a small back yard? We had three hydrangias (now removed) in the front that were infested with snails. Maybe they came from there?

2. Tomorrow I'll go buy some apples to poke in the potato soil, cheap beer and yogurt for traps, and oranges to bait the slugs/snails.. or is this overkill (will I attract more)?

3. Finally, is it too late for nematodes? And can I water nematodes into the potato bags or would that not be a good idea?

[nickdub]

Slugs and snails are a permanent fixture in most gardens - easier to cope with when the weather is dry and the plants are big :-) - I adopt a live and let live policy for the most part - life's too short to sweat the small stuff.

Can't advise about the nematodes, never tried them myself - I daresay someone-else will know.

[mysteryduck]

Slugs and snails are a permanent fixture in most gardens - easier to cope with when the weather is dry and the plants are big :-) - I adopt a live and let live policy for the most part - life's too short to sweat the small stuff.

Can't advise about the nematodes, never tried them myself - I daresay someone-else will know.

Thanks for the reality check! First garden, first slug attack, first night patrol.. it's hard to know what to panic about Glad the vine's here to help!

[nickdub]

You're very welcome - as long as you can keep the plants growing, you'll get a crop - happy gardening :-)

[Jungle Jane]

Slugs & snails always eat my potato leaves but I’ve never found them in the bag eating the potatoes,they must go home once they’ve had some leaf. I went out last night to do a slug patrol & then I saw the hedgehog & I thought I’ve been made redundant,I should make some ramps up to my potato tops.

[mysteryduck]

That's great to hear Jane! I feel much better

And after extensive googling I feel more prepared My seven step battle plan is to:
1. Water in the mornings so that compost is dryer and less hospitable in the evenings
2. Go get cheap beer (and if that doesn't work, good beer) to make traps
3. Put copper tape round all the 10-litre black pots
4. Remove clutter (pot up all the 3-inch pots and remove piles of "turf")
5. Ensure all leaf bridges are removed
6. Perform night patrols (regularly at first), leaving captured slugs/snails out for the birds so they know to look for them in the area
7. And most of all, remain vigilant for new leaf holes!

[Aberdeenplotter]

Slugs and snails are a permanent fixture in most gardens - easier to cope with when the weather is dry and the plants are big :-) - I adopt a live and let live policy for the most part - life's too short to sweat the small stuff.

Can't advise about the nematodes, never tried them myself - I daresay someone-else will know.

I used to be demented by slugs leaving holes in spuds and invested in some nematodes. Watered them in at the time of earthing up and it cured my problem. Even Cara, a late spud which is normally a slug magnet is now growing clean