Slugs and snails

[jansman]

Something I noticed this morning in my container garden. I planted a lovely colour contrast of red and green oak leaf lettuce. After all the rain the slugs and snails went mad. They have eaten ALL the green lettuce but not the red. All these years gardening I never observed that. Interesting for crop protection should slug pellets be unavailable.

[diamond lil]

That is odd, but handy to know

[valderee]

That is interesting to know, thank you for sharing.

[preparedsurrey]

Do you think they may be back for the red once all the green has gone?

It is strange though we are plagued with them last year they even ate all the rhubarb, leaves the lot ! Hopefully that might have cut down on their numbers!

[Malthouse]

I noticed the same, put a beer trap in as soon as I saw them at the greens so now don't know if it is the beer trap keeping them away or their dislike for red lettuce‽

[The-Mendologist]

You could try using an (once you have eaten it) upturned half of a grapefruit, not sure why it works, it just does, my Mum used this trick in her garden.

Slugs and snails do not like anything sharp on their foot, you could also use sharp stones and broken egg shells, it hurts them and they will not crawl over it.

[adrian007]

Please don't use slug pellets.

They kill hedgehogs too.

[omega man]

This is how we roll down on our allotment safe, natural and effective..
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nemaslug-Slug-K ... s=nemaslug


Here is a wiki about the Nematode organism :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nematode


OM

[jansman]

I use copper tape for the doorways of the polytunnel and green house. But I do use pellets in small quantity to protect young seedlings only. I like to get a crop for my efforts. Everything in the garden is now established, so no more pellets for now. I have tried the 'organic' and folksy methods, and they work to a degree. I would certainly have to use them had I no access to pellets. However, part of my prep is slug pellets, and a large bottle will last 4 seasons, so I am sparing. I guess it is what works for you.

I do not like to use commercial Tomato feed, so I make my own with Comfrey ( Bocking 14), as a) it works b) it is damned cheap- zero cost!

[junmist]

I don't blame them for eating the green lettuce I find the red bitter and won't eat it either perhaps I was a slug in another life