I had to give in and use slug pellets...

[rosyb]

This is my first year trying to grow my own and I've set up some pots and grow bags in my south-ish facing very small garden. Everything was going well, I had little seedlings everywhere, chard, lettuce, corriander, rocket and some flowers, then I went out one morning and they had all been munched!

Having spent weeks trying with beer traps and salt to reduce the slug and snail population I have given in and bought myself some slug pellets. I'm going to give it a few days for some of the little blighters to be killed off and then would really like to re-sow some things.

Anyone have any suggestions for things that don't mind being planted now but aren't too tasty for the slugs?

Or alternatively, anyone want to come and do the strange slug squashing dance that I've started doing every evening when it rains (I'm starting to worry myself!).

Rosy

[poultrychat]

Hi rosyb, any chance I could see the dance before commiting myself?

[Lesley Jay]

Oh Rosyb that is rooten. I would sow everything again and how about trying some french beans, peas, beetroot and carrots aswell. The only vegetable that slugs are not supposed to like is red lettuce because it tastes bitter. When using slug pellets sprinkle them very finely around the ground - don't put loads down because they don't work if you do. Good luck and welcome to the grapevine!

[adam connor]

I was in same situation and posted similar message last week. Used "safer" slu pelets with ferrumol and have all crops netted (so birds can't eat the pellets or dead slugs and now my crops are groing. BUT!!! rabbits now into veg garden despite fence being dug down 1 foot.

[Lesley Jay]

Adam take a look at the thread Those Pesky Rabbits in Pests and Diseases. Amazingly rabbits can jump a four foot fence!!

[lyndap]

I wish the slugs knew they not supposed to like red lettice. The blighters had a good go at mine last year!I must admit to giving in and using slug pellets on some crops.I really hate using anything like this but got to draw a line somewhere.

[SueA]

I started a thread asking if anyone knew any slug-proof plants especially edibles but no-one could think of any crop which slugs don't like! Lyndap, the slugs in my garden don't eat red lettuce but maybe it's because they're too busy eating the green ones which taste nicer!

[rosyb]

Have just had a look out at my plot and was hit with a mixture of regret and pleasure at all the little bodies lying around.
I'm going to start re-planting tomorrow, can't wait to get things growing again!

[Alice]

It's sad, but at the end of the day the slug pellets are the only really effective method of dealing with them - otherwise we wouldn't be on here talking about the problem.

[maranne]

I have just heard of a new (and the only "organic") slug pellet on the market - Ferramol. I'm going to buy some today, and put them down straight away. Will let you know how I got on.
maranne, Cork City, Ireland.

[multiveg]

I use bran! 38p for 500g from health food shop - this "feeds" them and I can then go out with torch hunting! Garlic is supposed to be slug unfriendly. Perhaps you could water plants with a weak garlic tea!

On Gardeners Question Time a while back, they had the head gardener of the Centre for Alternative Technology (in Wales) on who said that hoeing/cultivating the ground deters the slugs.

Perhaps you could grow some suicide crops - say lettuce hoping that the slugs will munch those rather than your wanted plants. Have seen people mention coffee grounds as effective measures. Copper tape slugs/snails don't like crossing. Have seen mention that use of copper tools for cultivating helps.

[SueA]

Starbucks are supposed to be giving away free used coffee grounds in their cafes for use as mulch/slug deterrent. Don't know if it works but it is free! Not in all shops though, you just have to be lucky.

[LindaS]

Someone told me today that apparently porridge is good for getting rid of slugs!
maybe the same as bran?!

[SueA]

Just don't add milk & sugar to it!

[LindaS]

You know what they say, a moment on the lips is a lifetime on the hips lol!