RUNNER BEANS - Slugs??

Planted 50 runner bean seeds directly into the soil. Go on holiday for three weeks. Come back, beans have come up.....slugs have eaten all the tops out!!! Is there any chance they will grow back? If I protect them from further onslaughts!!

 

Depends how far down they went, it's possible. It's the reason we start our in doors and get them to 20-30cm before planting out. Another option mentioned is to cover them with a clear plastic bottle - not tried this, but might give it a go on half next year.

 

I planted mine out They looked fine … then we had to go away for a week (MIL had an op).

This is what we came back to …
The neighbours put the netting up cos the damage was so great they thought it was pigeons. That night I made a slug pub with a cream carton half full of a dark ale (Woodeforde’s Norfolk Nog in this case) … this is what I tipped out of it the next morning

I’m replenishing the slug pub every night and still getting a good haul of slugs … and the runner beans seem to be recovering

 

Ours have been munched as well but curiously the plants at the end of the rows have been eaten quicker. The same has happened with our peas, lettuce, chard and more or less everything we have planted. The seemingly continuous wet weather and mild winter means it's gonna be hard going this year.

 

I'm trying a slug pub tonight, I hope they work on snails.
Just found very out of date bottle of Moretti in the fridge and its alcohol free, do you think it might work?

 

A friend in Cornwall had been using lager to little effect … at my suggestion she added a generous dollop of molasses .., slugs and snails have a sweet tooth . it worked really well.

 

Could add some sugar?

Is that on toast?

 

Strange outcome for the snail pub last night, I used a cut down milk carton and buried it partly in the ground, then filled with the beer.
This morning the carton had been dug up and I found it empty about 30ft away from where I left it.

I thinking the foxes got it before the snails had a chance.

 

It was alcohol free, you don't think I'd waste anything decent, do you?

 

The scores on the doors: Snails 3 v Runner Beans 0. All I'm left with is stalks.
I have more to plant if I can be bothered.

 

Runner beans grown behind the greenhouse ,in amongst the climbing rose ,and in an old horse manger.
Slugs well…..a few slug pellets placed carefully out of sight….no problem.

 

We have Lady Di, not quite as good a display, but not far behind. Big trouble with ours is lack of beans setting on them. The Cobra (French ) next to them are just as good, but also at least setting some beans as well - crop in the next few days!