Slugs Eating My Toms and Peppers

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by NewGardener, Jun 28, 2011.

  1. NewGardener

    NewGardener Gardener

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    Not a happy bunny! The slugs are eating the leaves on my tomatoes and peppers. I have beer traps which they don't give a monkeys about. They're in the greenhouse where they're most destructive. I put coffee grounds down, not bothered them. Running out of ideas, but I'll be damned if I let them repeat last year.

    Any alternate suggestions?
     
  2. Melinda

    Melinda Gardener

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    I went out at 4.30 this morning for my morning stretch and discovered one of my potted cucumbers has gone over night. It wasnt very big, but I was furious.

    The night before my pea shoots were attacked, again in a pot. And my largest hosta has been shredded.

    Im going to get nematodes. That will learn them.
     
  3. Vince

    Vince Not so well known for it.

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    I leave a few ripe strawberries for the blackbirds, they seem to like a strawberry dessert after a maincourse of slugs and snails :D
     
  4. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Dare I suggest slug pellets.:WINK1:

    What harm can they do, in a greenhouse.

    If you grow organically you must expect some pest damage.
     
  5. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    I use slug pellets in the greenhouse, very sparingly and targeted around the more susceptible plants.
     
  6. Melinda

    Melinda Gardener

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    I went for the classic option this evening.

    Ive just been out and lobbed about 20 over the fence.
     
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    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      Watch out for the homing slug variety :)
       
    • NewGardener

      NewGardener Gardener

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      I just went out, caught one of the little darlings on it's way to my youngest tomato. A stick sorted it out :)

      With regards to the slug pellets. How do they work? My pup has a habit of eating everything, so I don't want another vets bill for him eating a slug that's had pellets?
       
    • David G

      David G Gardener

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      Same here just put about 30 under my foot for the Blackbirds in the morning, no chemicals and very effective. Organic pest control that's what I like

      Dave
       
    • junctionboxjonny

      junctionboxjonny Apprentice Gardener

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      I creep out at night with my fishing headlamp on and salt the munching slimebags...just love to hear them fizzzzzzzz :D
       
    • Euphrasie62

      Euphrasie62 Apprentice Gardener

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      A few weeks ago my whole lettuce crop was demolished by slugs, I have since put netting over them and some of my lettuce has recovered. Then I noticed my basil looking a bit worse for wear and a snail had the nerve to be asleep on the underside of one of the leaves! Outraged by the cheek of it, I used Miranda's technique and he ended up in the neighbour's garden about two houses down...

      The situation is turning into a war now, my french beans have been eaten, despite being under netting. I read somewhere that copper tape can be used around pots to stop the slugs, anybody know if this actually works?
       
    • gcc3663

      gcc3663 Knackered Grandad trying to keep up with a 4yr old

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      A tennis racket could have one of 2 results:-
      1. More distance for the "Homing" slug to negotiate - he may find a more acceptable home before he gets back!
      2. Diced Slug - organic bird food.

      Either result is acceptable:dbgrtmb::dbgrtmb:
       
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      • HarryS

        HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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        Copper tape works great on containers , also a light spraying of WD40 around the bottom 10cm . I never seem to have slug/snail probs in the containers prepared like this .
         
      • Fidgetsmum

        Fidgetsmum Total Gardener

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        Slug pellets work by .... killing slugs!

        If your 'infestation' is in the greenhouse, why not do as I have done and make a 'door-sized' wooden frame by just using some cheap (44mm x 34mm) softwood, half-lapped at the corners and covered in wire mesh or even nylon netting; a couple of cup hooks at the top and a bit of wire attached to the greenhouse (mine's aluminium but still easy to attach a bit of wire) to wrap round the cup hooks and hey-presto - cats, hedgehogs and yes, even dogs, can't get in.
         
      • newveggie

        newveggie Apprentice Gardener

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        I have tried these in the middle of my veg garden in between the runners and the courgettes. Pretty but not perfect - I did catch one or two slugs which had run the gauntlet! Might be worth a try, though. Link below :

        Snail and Slug Repellent Flower seeds
         
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