brassicas and slug pellets

[Jimmy]

I had to net my brassicas and also lay down a carpet of slug pellets.

Are slug pellets less effective than they used to be?
I seem to have to scatter fresh ones every other day!

Jimmy

[bario1]

A 'carpet'? - sounds like you're using too many... on the tub it probably advises more of a light sprinkle.

[Chris11]

It's December. It's cold. It's not exactly peak slug season

You haven't said how your brassicas are being affected, but are you sure it's slugs?

[Jimmy]

It was earlier in the year. I have approx 6 sprouts , 6 sprouting broccoli and 12 kale plants.
I suspect it was snails not slugs.
Jimmy

[Jungle Jane]

When I look at my Brussels sprouts (not much!) there's always a little snail or two in the Brussels tops keeping warm. Do earthworms eat the pellets? I was reading about ferrous sulphate slug pellets,in tests earthworms weight dropped as it affects their digestion/insides & it takes more than one application to kill the slugs,they keep coming back.

[BUFFS]

we had a nightmare year for slugs on the brassica plants, the pellets were not very effective but then the sun never came out and it kept raining, even when the cabbages were picked we had to submerge them in salted water for an hour to tease out all the hidden slugs/snails. next year they will be covered with fleece and get their water from the soil. when i had the chooks we let them free onto the veg patch in the autumn and we never seemed to get the problems the following year after they had their 2 week scrum, and the eggs were brill....we have had 3 sunny days this week, that's a record since the sunshine in April..

[lolie]

I find slug and snail pellets extremely effective, but if there's an alternative route to the plants (and there often is as plants get bigger) they will find it.

I definitely need to replenish the pellets fairly frequently, though.

One thing they really, really seem to hate is sugar cane mulch. That's a very expensive form of slug and snail deterrent, though.

[burnie]

I won't use slug pellets as they indiscriminate, Thrushes and Hedgehogs have been killed eating slugs and snails that have eaten slug pellets. The pellets work by attracting the slugs and snails, so they can actually be counter productive, if I have to use anything, then beer traps are effective.

[Mark_Riga]

I think that rats and mice are quite partial to the odd slug pellet as well.

[KevinM67]

I won't use slug pellets as they indiscriminate, Thrushes and Hedgehogs have been killed eating slugs and snails that have eaten slug pellets. The pellets work by attracting the slugs and snails, so they can actually be counter productive, if I have to use anything, then beer traps are effective.

I'm with you on this Burnie.

No poison ever.