Slug nemotodes

[mysteryduck]

This is our second year of growing and we’ve increased our pot quota and installed some raised beds. With more pots comes more slugs.. a lot more slugs.. so we decided to give nematodes a go. This was a couple of weeks ago. There was a mass exodus. Slugs everywhere. Climbing the potatoes. If anything they were more attracted to pots. Perhaps because the nematodes didn’t persist in the pots, or couldn’t reach under the pots. So the question is, should we nematode again (is it recommended to apply multiple treatments)? Or are nematodes generally not recommended for pots?

[Dynamite]

Haven’t used them but I’m interested. I believe you can make your own.

Kind Regards.............Rob

[MelanieSW]

I used nematodes last year and didn't have any issues with slugs, though this may also have been because it was exceptionally warm and dry.
Have applied them this year as well, no major slug issues so far.
Did you keep the area moist for the first couple of weeks?
Also, they don't work as well on snails.

[Small pumpkin]

I use nematodes every year they are fantastic things.
They are supposed to last for 6 week, then you reapply. I've never bothered reapplying because plants have been big enough to cope with a small amount of munching.
Did you apply them to all the pots as well as the beds?
And another stupid question! Did you do your calculations correctly? Did you apply enough in the first place ?

[mysteryduck]

Calculations were done correctly and nematodes were applied to everything. Maybe I didn’t explain well enough in my original post. After the nematodes were applied, all slugs and snails attempted to leave our garden. It was complete madness. They were all over the paving, and for some reason climbed the potatoes (in potato grow sacks, sitting on gravel). They’d never been spotted on potatoes previously. Anyway, a couple of weeks later, I’m still finding slugs (we do a patrol every other night). But we only find them on the paved / pot side of the garden, not the raised beds. I’m wondering if it could be due to pots drying out (I do try to keep things moist, especially when it’s hot), or nematodes not being able to reach under the pots, or if it’s generally advised to have multiple applications.

[Small pumpkin]

Yeah pots drying out will of killed the nematodes.

[mysteryduck]

Hmm.. yea, that’s what I suspected. I mean, I did try to keep them moist, but it was rather hot for a few days. I guess I’m just wondering if people have successfully used them with pots? Or if it’s just too difficult with monitoring moisture / having too many places slugs can escape to (outside the pot). Presumably they ran away from the nematodes originally.. but did they survive this encounter and persist in safe zones? or did they die and new ones have replaced them? (There are some massive ones on night patrol). Their babies have grown and there’s a new generation — are we supposed to apply them on a generational cycle?

It’s worth trying everything once, but I’m not sure how effective this has been.. Sorry for the confusing post. I guess it’s difficult to answer without giving the slugs tiny trackers and monitoring their movements...

[Small pumpkin]

I always use nemotodes in pots, but to be honest none of the pots I use are smaller than a potato grow bag. So I don't know how they do in anything small.
I've never noticed the slugs running away from the nemotodes!? Basically you're just giving them worms. Not something the slugs pick up on , that I'm aware of. If you've still got lots visible think how many are dead as they generally die underground with nemotodes. I've never seen a dead slug since I've been using them. Maybe you've got an abnormal amount and you might need to treat again. But I'm only guessing, I really don't know.

[Penellype]

I use nematodes, although I haven't needed to so far this year as it has been so dry. They are killed by being dry or by being too cold, but I suspect dryness could have killed them in the pots. I use them as part of a multi-pronged attack on slugs and snails, which includes removing every slug and snail that I see, however small. I also protect pots and individual plants such as brassicas with a ring of copper tape and sprinkle "Slug Gone" (sheeps wool pellets) around vulnerable seedlings.

Slugs and snails seem to come out when it has rained, particularly in the evening and you may see far more of them then than you ever thought you had. I have seen my back lawn literally black with slugs on a damp evening at dusk. Similarly they will climb plants in the evening - I have seen snails at head height in the hawthorn hedge at the allotment and it is a good time to go out and pick them off plants.

[rary]

Possibly the night temperatures were a bit low for the nematodes

[SarrissUK]

I have used nemaslug for years, as I had an enormous amount of slugs and snails in my back garden, which has clay soil.

I've never had an exodus like that - they can't really escape them to be honest, but I imagine it will upset the slugs into strange behaviour. It's always controlled the numbers for much longer than 6 weeks, but if I noticed there was lots of slug and snail damage on plants, I would reapply. I tend to buy the bigger packs so I can use it for the allotment as well as the garden, and often they sell them slightly cheaper at shows, so I'll be getting some at Gardeners world live later this month

[mysteryduck]

Thanks all for the feedback. Lots to ponder! We do have clay soil and it might have rained a few nights after the nematodes went in. I’m going to put the exodus down to that and hope it stays dry!