Keep slugs and snails off your broad bean and pea seedlings by cutting a 2 litre plastic drinks bottle into plastic "sleeves" to place over each individual plant, burying the rim of the plastic to a depth of about 1cm below the earth to stop them blowing away in the wind and prevent the slugs from sneaking in underneath.
It's the Perrone-patented slug sleeve, as it's called in my household, except the "patent" bit may be a small exaggeration ...
How do I stop the damn slugs?
I potted up a load of organic herbs over the weekend - only to receive a frantic call from my partner today to tell me that the slugs have demolished them.
We would rather not use pesticides as we are trying to be organic, we have tried nematodes with some success but they only seem to have diminshed rather than eliminated the problem, we have tried copper barrier tape on pots and trays (the slugs still seem to get in to the plants), we dont want to use plastic bottles etc as this detracts from/completely hides the plants, beer/water traps are such a mess (particualry emptying them), we have encouraged frogs into the garden but there seem to be too many slugs for them...
got any ideas?
Posted by: Ross | May 25, 2005 at 01:56 PM
It has been said that you do not have too many slugs, you just do not have enough ducks. There are many barriers it is also said that slugs and snails will not cross but most will last only until the first downpour. As I grow many Hostas in pots I am still experimenting with: coffee grounds,coffee spray, tea spray, garlic spray, chilli powder and/or spray, egshells, copper band and maybe spray (will it kill the plant, holly leaves (better dried) soot etc. Some of the strong smelling ones should also deter cats for at great expense I have also found that Silent Roar is perhaps too silent for the cats. One electronic gadget appears to work but a forest of them is required for 180ft.garden.
Posted by: Thorrun | July 12, 2008 at 02:24 PM