Slugs Must Die – Bring on the Pellets
So the weekend was a little disappointing, well garden wise it was. As I was lovingly attending to the plants at the weekend, I noticed something disturbing. Moving closer to the pepper plant it became apparent that the small mark on my prize pepper started to turn into a bigger mark, then a small hole then a bigger hole. In fact a slug sized hole to be quite specific and there was even a ‘trail’ of evidence.
I was gutted, and that would be putting it mildly. Granted I would have to give it marks for cutting it out perfectly, it looked almost like it had been done with a laser.
So in conclusion the Slug Stop does not work, it really doesn’t. I had a discussion with a friend who wasn’t surprised this had happened as they believe the slug eggs are already in the soil when you buy it, which would explain why I have found a few baby snails/slugs lately.
Unfortunately I have had to get some pellets, I didn’t want to, but at this rate we are not going to get anything from the plants this year, which will be a real shame as all the plants have actually grown really well. I did read the instructions for pellet application on the box but the in reality it turned out to be pretty much the same as it would be if you were applying sprinkles to ice cream. In order words, far too many of them!
So anyway I apologise to slugs and snails everywhere in advance.
In other news, the blight which has now been confirmed seems to be spreading. I keep removing affected areas but I have a horrible feeling the whole crop is going to go at this rate. Also the broccoli is flowering and doesn’t look broccoli shaped and I have no idea why. Answers on a postcard please!
Tags: Blight, Pests and Produce, Slugs, Virgin Gardener
Don’t poison the ground with too many pellets. You only need about four per plant.
You could make a circle around each plant (brassica’s mainly) with builders lime. Good for the soil and slugs hate it. Also coarse builders sand or crushed egg shells will help.
It sounds as though the broccoli has gone to seed.
I was afraid the broccoli may have had it
, time to start again, well next year anyhow!
Think I got a bit carried away then with the pellets! They did seem to be falling quite happily out of the box at the time. Will look at trying the sand nearer the plants as the grit I placed around the raised bed didn’t seem to work. Sounds like a good idea so thanks for that suggestion
You need to buy broccoli and kale plants now for next year. Go to a farmers market as they sell excess plants at a cheaper price than garden centres, and the plants will be the most suited to your type of soil. If your lucky clover is going to empty over the winter, why not have it indoors and grow “all the year round” lettuce.
Hi Potty old dear. Buy them and plant them now? I hadn’t even thought of kale. I think we have a farmers market nearby so I shall certainly go and have a look. I fear that if we keep the Lucky Clover indoors the kittens will eat it!