Slugs and copper

[Jimmy]

I do like a radish.
But they always get horribly nibbled by slugs.
Regardless of how many slug pellets I use.

I heard slugs don't like copper, is that true ?

So I thought..

On my raised bed make a small raised bed on top, the width of the raised bed but say 8 inch wide.
Made from pallet planks.
Strip some old mains power cable to get some nice shiny copper wire.
And nail it around the top.

Do you thinks this might work ?
Jimmy

[veggiechicken]

have a look at this current (get it!) thread http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ten_66513.html

[rpt]

I think there are two problems:
- Copper wire not wide enough. I think it needs to be a strip of copper, like the tape you can buy.
- Slugs live underground and will come up without needing to cross the copper.

[Andromeda]

On beds copper is little use, but I edge my tanks and enclosed beds with copper tape (Also the edges of my baskets and tubs that have bush toms in) and it works really well for me).

[hollychap]

i had a problem with slugs eating my chickens food and sliming all over there feeder i bought some copper tape and covered the bottom of the feeder with it , it didnt bother the slugs one bit

[Tomato Head]

I have put some copper tape around my pots but it is the stuff you buy that is at least an inch wide - I don't think copper wire will be wide enough. From what I've read, they can cross it if it's narrow.

After a few weeks of being smug and thinking I'd escaped the slug curse, word has got around and my friendly, neighbourhood slugs have discovered my plants. I put some copper tape around one pot (tomato plant) that had been "slugged" a few days ago and since then there has been no sign of any slugs on that one. I've bought an extra roll of the tape and tomorrow all my pots are getting the treatment. So I don't know yet whether copper really works, but on the one pot of mine that has it on at the moment it seems to be a success.

[Florence Fennel]

Sorry to keep repeating myself, but petroleum jelly smeared around the top of pots and containers works like a charm.

[Tomato Head]

Ooh thanks for that - I'll give it a go. I assume it's the fact that it works by making the container slippery rather than due to any ingredient in the petroleum jelly? I only ask as I use petroleum free jelly.