Whats the best way to add slug pellet to the spud bed ??

[Minty]

Hi Guys and Gals.
I put my earlies in about a week ago and was told today by one of the lottie old boys that i should have put some slug pellets in the trench between each spud. I had heard this mentioned before but was a little concerned they would rot in the soil and the growing potatoes would feed off the chemicals which i really dont like the idea of.
I have also seen today another lottie owner scattering pellets over his covered potatoes like you would scatter chicken feed and the another plot holder says to me "Ah wouldn`t bloody bother with them fangled pellet things youth" ??????????????.What do you do please.
Thanks Minty

[smallblueplanet]

I never use slug pellets on anything. If you are worried about slugs, try growing a variety less susceptible. Grow 2nd earlies & earlies as they're in the ground less time and so are less likely to be slugged.

How many spuds do you lose to slugs anyway?

[Paul Wagland]

Have you had much trouble with slugs on this plot Minty? My view is that planting a few extra spuds, building a wildlife pond and a log pile, and slug-picking on a damp evening every now and then is just as good a method of control, and avoids the need to use slug pellets.

[Minty]

I never use slug pellets on anything. If you are worried about slugs, try growing a variety less susceptible. Grow 2nd earlies & earlies as they're in the ground less time and so are less likely to be slugged.

How many spuds do you lose to slugs anyway?

Hi SBP, i can`t say as it`s my first years planting.

Have you had much trouble with slugs on this plot Minty? My view is that planting a few extra spuds, building a wildlife pond and a log pile, and slug-picking on a damp evening every now and then is just as good a method of control, and avoids the need to use slug pellets.

As it`s my first proper years planting i do not have a bench mark. When i was clearing the plot i can`t remember seeing too many slugs but LOTS of snails.

[smallblueplanet]

When we used to live in N. Derbys we grew a fair few different types of spuds to see what kind might grow best, and what flavour we liked most. What growing a fair few varieties also showed was that some potatoes seem to get 'slugged' more then others. So you could search for potato varieties that are said to be slug resistant, or as I said grow spuds that are harvested early (as opposed to maincrop) - try lots of types see what grows well for you, see what the slugs like - they only eat some of them! Why do you have to poison the slugs and maybe anything that eats the dead slugs?

[Two_Sheds]

Snails won't eat your spuds... they don't burrow into the soil. Do without the pellets.

If you MUST use pellets, they are best sown sparingly (just like the instructions say) and not laid down in a thick blue carpet.

[Paul Wagland]

Snails are much easier to catch, so I would be less worried about them. If you can get a pond in the ground in the next week or two you'll probably have frogs in it before you know it. Doesn't have to be big, an old butler sink or even a big plastic flower pot will do.

Slugs are usually only problematic around spuds when you get a real plague of them, and this is usually caused by the ecosystem being unbalanced by things like pesticides. It might seem odd that slug pellets actually encourage slugs, but many types are widely thought to be fatal to the slug predators too (ingested when the predator eats the dying slug) so your natural controls like thrushes, hedgehogs and frogs are not around any more, and the slugs thrive.

[bridget mc laughlin]

Whats the best way to deal with slugs on main cropspuds

[Minty]

Thanks. I was not aware that the dead slugs if eaten would kill what ever ate them.
I WILL NOT BE USING SLUG PELLETS!!!!. I love the wildlife of the lottie and beyond and have been a bird lover for years(So maybe i should have known).
It must be an omen because as i have cleared the last jungle area of the lottie over the last two weeks i have awoken at least half a dozen toads(not frogs) and have replaced them in their lazy state in to a calm and covered area behind my shed, i would hate to think that after all this i could kill them with slug pellets.
Minty

[Seahorse]

Minty! I think you'd better relocate some of the Lincolnshire potato mountain to Derbyshire! You know, just in case

[Paul Wagland]

I was not aware that the dead slugs if eaten would kill what ever ate them.

Well you're not alone mate - the slug pellet manufacturers sure as hell wouldn't tell you.

Toads eh? Must confess I am more than a little jealous! I'm hoping to grow some Natterjacks from eggs this year....

[Snadger]

Keel slugs.........the little shi*ts that live underground are the ones that attack spuds.
Nematodes are supposed to work but I think that a crop rotation system combined with keeping the soil in good heart i.e mucking and mulching seems to work for me on my silty soil.
I know my dear old Dad struggled for years to grow slug free tatties on his heavy loam and used to swear by planting his tatties in a coccoon of peat and sand mix.
I'm not advocating this but I remember him even watering the area with ***** fluid and dropping mothballs in the gulleys!

[Minty]

Minty! I think you'd better relocate some of the Lincolnshire potato mountain to Derbyshire! You know, just in case

Hasn`t that been kindly done already
Minty

[Minty]

Well you're not alone mate - the slug pellet manufacturers sure as hell wouldn't tell you.

Toads eh? Must confess I am more than a little jealous! I'm hoping to grow some Natterjacks from eggs this year....

Thinking about it Paul, i have never seen a Frog at the allotment, lots of toads.
Get a few Frogs in the garden at home though. Minty

[davefromthechipie]

try { Growing success Advanced Slug Killer }

Its safe for all birds hegs/frogs/etc... It uses iron and phosphate. Its not like the organic garlic granules . its just like a normal slug pellet . and dosnt cost the earth.