Help with my Tomato Plants

[teamladd]

Hi All,

Im knew to this forum and new to the growing of vegetables. I would be grateful with any help I can get.

Last week I put some of my tomato plants outside in growbags after I had had them inside. They are about a foot high and seem to be doing well. After going out this afternoon I have noticed that slugs have started to eat at them and at my french marigolds that I planted. What is the best way to get rid of the pesky slugs?

Also was it too early to plant out my tomato plants?

Thanks.

[teamladd]

can anyone help me?

[zazen999]

Hi

There are many many ways to get rid of slugs - if you go to the search button then you can search at your leisure; personally I use the organic slug pellets.

I can't say whether it is too early to pop your toms out, as we don't know where you are.

If you pop your location into your profile, it really helps when answering questions.

If you hardened them off and they are doing well, then it is probably just about the right time.

Oh, and welcome to the Vine.

[teamladd]

Thanks for getting back to me.

I will be going out in a few mins then to get some slug pellets!

[taff]

I think the last frost date for round here is the end of May, but if it keeps raining, it probably won't happen
I've used eggshells round my beans, they seem to work fine for the first week or so, then the wind shifts them around a bit, the birds scratch at them, pretty soon, no slug protection.

[daisybee]

Hi Teamladd,
It's a great site and you will get lots of advice and help, I'm quite a newbie but everyone has been really friendly. I resorted to slug pellets in my garden as have a major slug problem, Glad I did as have been hardening my plants off outside overnight and last night had a big slug attack which would have been awful if not for the pellets. Happy gardening!

[Pickle]

Sorry to jump on your thread but it seemed like a sensible place to ask my tomato question too I put my cherry toms out to start hardening them off. I stupidly didn't check the weather forecast thoroughly and I was out for the day. They had been out each day for about 3 days already but in the space of that one day we had wind, rain and sun. Now they are looking rather dishevelled and sorry for themselves. Could it be that the combination of rain and sun has left them scorched and that the wind was just one element too far?

Teamladd, welcome to the vine! I have found everyone to be really helpful and friendly on here and in the short time I have been a memebr of this forum I have learnt LOADS

[teamladd]

Sorry to jump on your thread but it seemed like a sensible place to ask my tomato question too I put my cherry toms out to start hardening them off. I stupidly didn't check the weather forecast thoroughly and I was out for the day. They had been out each day for about 3 days already but in the space of that one day we had wind, rain and sun. Now they are looking rather dishevelled and sorry for themselves. Could it be that the combination of rain and sun has left them scorched and that the wind was just one element too far?

Teamladd, welcome to the vine! I have found everyone to be really helpful and friendly on here and in the short time I have been a memebr of this forum I have learnt LOADS

Not to worry Pickle, this has actually happened to two of my cherry tomatoe plants. So if anyone can help with this issue I would be grateful too!

[smallblueplanet]

You could make some 'slug pubs' out of marg tubs and fill them with beer and water, put the tops level with the soil. Or if you're too mean to waste beer then use plain yoghurt and water - its the yeast they go for! Or there's biological killers like nematodes. Or go out late on with a torch and a bucket and pick them off!

[taff]

They had been out each day for about 3 days already but in the space of that one day we had wind, rain and sun. Now they are looking rather dishevelled and sorry for themselves. Could it be that the combination of rain and sun has left them scorched and that the wind was just one element too far

Give them a couple of days out of the wind and they'll probably be ok.

[bustertom]

Hi Teamladd, I've recently bought copper tape off ebay and that seems to be working well. I've put it on the top edge of my raised beds and around the outside near the top of my big pots with runner beans. The slugs and snails are parallel to the copper tape but don't go over it. I have a dog and have decided not to use slug pellets - I know you can get ones that are safe but don't want to take the risk.

I've also got a pond - so have toads, frogs and newts. After rain I sometimes see a toad on the beds so I'm sure they are doing their bit. It won't help you right now but if you haven't already got a wildlife pond, now might be the time to start thinking about one.

Good luck - I hate snails much more than slugs!

[00264167]

i prefer the organic humane method. after dark i quitely go outside with a torch and a hammer and if you see those little blighters on your plants you take a big swing and use that hammer. you might cath a few of your plants but youve got to expect some collateral damage. its the only language they understand bob.

[Crosbie]

How come I don't get any slugs? Everyone else seems to get them except me.

I've got lettuces coming 'oot me ears...and I still can't get a slug. I only once found a slug halfway up a peat pot - indoors - how did it find its way there? Beer...? Johnson's Wax?

Regards
Crosbie

[taff]

I haven't got any on the lettuces yet, but they did try eating the broad beans, hence the eggshells. They've left nearly everything else alone except the very bottom leaves of the peas.
Probably because they haven't got hands to hold on in the windy weather

[Crosbie]

...guess the broad beans are a good decoy for the nearby lettuces. If I were a slug I'd head straight for the broads