Vegetable Growing 2024

Sorry no proof just an idea, my greenhouse at home is on a solid slab base, so they can't be coming up from the soil below, whereas on the plots it's on soil so I understand how they get in. At home in the past I may have got the odd few from plants brought in to overwinter, but these were easily dealt with. I do keep bags of bought compost under the bench and recently found masses of the critters under and in , the bags, and they were of a size and speckled green colour I have never seen before
here.

 

On a more positive note, I have finally got the cage up and the brassicas planted.
@misterQ
Very envious of the raddish crop , how do you keep the flea beetle off the leaves? We never get to use the leaves on ours.

 

2, out of 4 Genovese courgettes, sown 24/4 are finally putting in a bashful appearance. Replacements, Tarmino, sown 8/5 are also through.
One door to the greenhouse is permanently open now - though gated to prevent dog ingress! Our old dog has lost the plot and would eat tomato plants - I know, she has form for this.
My modest number of runners and Frenchies are in their outside stations, also protected from doggy gnashers, until they establish themselves well.
It's beginning to look a lot like May!

 

Were they these ?
February - Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
If so, thought to be on our side !
Can probably slide under or around door.

 

I kept a solution of 6 garlic cloves in water in a spray bottle in the fridge and it seems to work well vs slugs and snails though is probably short lived. issue is the spray bottles i ordered are useless

plucking adult snails seems by far the most effective tactic for large plants but doesnt do much for seedlings where spray may be good

 

No No leopard slugs, these are greenish colour. I expect you are right they can squeeze through the tiniest of gaps.

 

harvested some of my chard cause it was bolting already. neither got very big, perhaps the winter sow isnt ideal. only the red one has any "chard" taste, but not like what I had at my ma's! I wonder if that was a betroot.

The green one is "fordhook giant", its supposed to be low oxalate but that seems to also mean low chard taste! ill have it cooked. do i just steam or boil it like with kale?

 

I tend to boil the stems and steam the leaves, though I will use smaller leaves raw in salad...

 

I use the green leafy parts of chard like spinach and find it has a better texture and works better in soups and stews. The stalks can be steamed, stir fried or added to stews.

I've had a slug and snail problem in my polytunnel. Before I found their hiding spots they'd eaten all my cavolo nero and PSB seedlings and have also munched their way through chilli and tomato seedlings. They haven't touched the garlic kale tho so I'll be making a garlic spray to protect the other plants.

 

Would you like to buy a snail? @Dovefromabove My species is called a Decollate Snail and are apparently predators to snails and slugs (I'd like to see that) - they don't eat healthy plants (I'd like to see that too Grrr.) I have plenty to go around.
decollate snail

 

Do they come with a watertight guarantee?

 

No, just a rubber dinghy !

 

My garden in Dordogne is horribly squelchy after all the rain and more is forecast.

The potatoes need earthing up but it's too wet. Broad beans are in flower. Sugar snap peas are climbing, some got eaten by slugs. I'm surprised I still have lettuces, only a little slug damage. The red onion sets are growing, so are the brassicas, (cabbages, broccoli and curly kale) and chard. I have just potted on bought plants, tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers and peppers, too wet to plant out. I don't have a GH anymore so I cheat and buy plants. Also it's hard when I travel to the UK. I've sown runner beans in pots as I don't want them to be eaten or rot.

 

We could do with a sympathy smilie for all those with slugs and snails!

 

Do you have hedghogs in Dordogne, or badgers?