How to grow lettuce with minimal slug damage?

[mcdood]

I'll also take a look at some traps, I was using the plastic bottles pinned to the ground method with limited success, that someone had posted on here. Regarding the red lettuce VC I'm a bit like the slugs I prefer green too

[veggiechicken]

Regarding the red lettuce VC I'm a bit like the slugs I prefer green too

You probably like beer too.

[mcdood]

You'd be right, but not the cheap and nasty stuff I put in the traps, maybe that's my problem the slugs might have a discerning beer palate too

[Nicos]

We had good success on the uk lottie with nemaslug.
Thing is it's a living thing and starts dying as soon as it's put in the post which is why it needs storing in the fridge to try and keep them alive for longer.
The first time we used it we had to wait until after the last frost (who knows for sure when the last one is?)so it was getting a bit old.
We used it two or three consecutive years and it definately made a difference
Here we tend to have most problems at the seedling stage in the blowaway. I think we need to microwave the potting compost before using it . It'd be interesting to see if that makes a difference!

[mcdood]

I think we need to microwave the potting compost before using it . It'd be interesting to see if that makes a difference!

It would certainly give the slugs a hard time

[Nicos]

I guess they overwinter/lay eggs in the half used bags, so it's a disaster waiting to happen?

[cptncrackoff]

We had good success on the uk lottie with nemaslug.
Thing is it's a living thing and starts dying as soon as it's put in the post which is why it needs storing in the fridge to try and keep them alive for longer.
The first time we used it we had to wait until after the last frost (who knows for sure when the last one is?)so it was getting a bit old.
We used it two or three consecutive years and it definately made a difference
Here we tend to have most problems at the seedling stage in the blowaway. I think we need to microwave the potting compost before using it . It'd be interesting to see if that makes a difference!

Nicos I read an article a while back about growing your own nematodes.. from memory you literally kept a dozen or so slugs in close confinement - they are naturally riddled with nematodes, they multiply with the slugs in high close population and there you go.. water them on.. I think there was a bit more to this than I remember though..

[cptncrackoff]

I grew some absolutely AMAZING looking icebergs a couple years back, like tight crispy footballs, when harvested every single one was peppered with thousands of tiny slugs.
I was distraught.

[mcdood]

Yep same last year for me but with Paris Cos. They looked lovely and I was a happy dude, came to pick them and by the time I'd removed all the slugs and damaged leaves, was left with one or two tiny leaves on each lettuce.

[bramble]

You can put vut plastic bottles into circles, like collars and put one around each lettuce when you're planting them out.
I also have some very long window boxes and I grow lettuce in these as well.
It all helps.
I would say you're wood surrounding your raised bed is a perfect hiding place for the slugs.

[mcdood]

Thanks Bramble that definitely sounds worth trying

[rary]

I make my own nematode drench and it works, but I have been growing lettuce over the winter in a wooden sided raised bed which contains a lot of seaweed and absolutely no slug damage and I did find some slugs in a bird feed container

[rary]

If you don't want to make your own, try steeping crushed garlic in water (use the skins as well) for a week or so then filter into a spray bottle you can add water to dilute if you want and spray your plants again if you don't want to spray the plants drench the surrounding soil, you need to spray regularly I would recommend every 3 days or after heavy rain, this works with cabbage not sure about lettuce but worth a try