Sweet peppers, slugs and blue pellets of death

[redser]

Don't know why I'm posting this, just to vent and rant I suppose. Popped up to the plot on the way to work for a little watering in the tunnel and the slugs have been at my sweet peppers. Was so proud of them. Started in early February and nurtured with all the care I could give them. Lots of flowers and a few peppers growing well (about half an inch big). Felt sick looking at the half munched little fruit.
So that's it. Slug pellets for me. Been trying my best to do it the organic/non-pellet way but I can't sit by and watch the slimey buggers eat my months of work. So why do I feel guilty!!??
Time for a coffee and a bit of staring out the window

[Scousemooncat]

Oh, I know what you mean - I had 12 savoy cabbages, 12 caulis and 8 brussels plants all coming on great guns...they survived about a week outside and the slimy pests did for them...

I am definitely going to adopt the blue pellets of death approach...so I get at least a sprout for xmas dinner...

It does indeed make you feel sad and also the guilt...theres only so may I can chop in half with my hoe, or ping onto my neighbours plot

[Two_Sheds]

Half an inch big ... that's bite-size to a slug.

I don't plant anything on the lotty until it's bigger than a slug's gob


Seriously, if you use pellets you MUST use them sparingly, don't lay a blue carpet of them. Single ones are like sweeties, they attract the slugs away from your plants. Masses of them are actually repellant, and the slugs avoid them.

[redser]

Thanks, I didn't know that.

[Jardiniere]

Nor me. I have only started using them since I no longer have chickens. It says on the packet that they are compatible with organic gardening......however this year i have also bought something for the flea beetle ...so not quite as organic as I was! Havent used it yet - hoping i might not have to - the rocket has come up not very holy.....

[Farmer_Gyles]

slug pellets is nothing to feel guilty about .... i'm growing for me, not the slugs, so i'll use the pellets ....

[Rabidbun]

I also used some on the allotment this year - don't feel guilty. I have nematodes on order, but needed to plant out my squashes and the runner beans I put in up there have been decimated with two thirds of the leaves lacework. Hoping not to use any more though once things are established.

Slugs really are icky critters!

[Farmer_Gyles]

I have nematodes on order

there was a thread on the forums recently about making your own nematodes .... gotta be worth a go ...

[redser]

So I'm only going to use a few around precious plants like these peppers. And maybe occasionally around very young plants. I'll be as careful as I can about disposing of the slugs and snails before anything can eat them.

[alldigging]

The snails go in a jar and I'm getting better at picking slugs up too without wincing too much.

[Farmer_Gyles]

So I'm only going to use a few around precious plants like these peppers. And maybe occasionally around very young plants. I'll be as careful as I can about disposing of the slugs and snails before anything can eat them.

it's no good using them around your precious plants .... pellets don't kill the slugs instantly .... they can happily munch a pellet and then go on to scoff your plants before they die ....

scatter the pellets over your whole plot / veggie patch .... i do a few handfuls every week, thrown all over my 40ft x 30ft veggie patch ....

[redser]

Thanks. Just going to have to get the lab coat on and invent something so. I get the arguments against using them wholesale and want to do the best I can to avoid them.

[Rabidbun]

there was a thread on the forums recently about making your own nematodes .... gotta be worth a go ...

Will take a look, cheers!

[veggiechicken]

The snails go in a jar and I'm getting better at picking slugs up too without wincing too much.

I use a cheap pair of barbecue tongs for de-slugging, then chuck the slugs in a bucket of salty water.

[Florence Fennel]

I have to use tongs for the slugs VC, but I haven't seen many yet this year. Snails I'm ok with because they retract the spongy bit so you can just hold the shell and lob. Or put on the ground and stomp.