Shows of Hands: Pondering Slug Damage


Veronica's photo for Shows of Hands chimes with the hot topic of discussion this week. She says:

My hand is pointing to very heavily nibbled courgette plant. Bloody slugs.

 It's possibly the worst picture I've ever taken but it's the spirit of the event that counts!

Aren't slugs and snails a real pain this year? I'm on my second sowing of courgettes and squashes as mine got nibbled to death when I put them outside to harden off. The jury's out on whether my wasabi up at the plot will ever recover. I'm also keeping a close eye on my dahlias which are just beginning to push their noses out of the soil - they're usually the slug dinner of choice if I'm not careful.

As "Mad-Eye" Moody would say, "Constant vigilance!" is required.

Thanks Veronica for capturing the mood of the moment with your photo. There's still a couple of days left for anyone else wanting to contribute to Shows of Hands. There's been a terrific response so far, so you'll be in very good company :)

Comments

  1. rusty duck6 June 2014 at 10:31

    It's one of the worst years I've known for slug damage. Wet weather and mild winter combination I suppose. I've already spent £40 on nematodes and yet still they nibble on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2014 at 09:30

      Yes that mild and wet combo is ideal for them :-(

      Delete
  2. Unknown6 June 2014 at 14:58

    Slug and snails are such a pain - All is looking good in the poly, salads and such looking promising then you get up the next morning and the darn slugs/snails have nibbled them to death - I wouldn't mind so much if they just took a little nibble, we have all got to eat, but the greedy beggers always eat the lot!!! I go out on the hunt every night before bed armed with my scissors - gruesom I know but it works.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous6 June 2014 at 16:11

    I'm reluctently using organic slug pellets for the first time. Flighty xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2014 at 09:33

      Your not alone from all the comments I've seen this week, Flighty

      Delete
  4. Hetty6 June 2014 at 17:22

    I go every evening with my light torch searching for slugs. What a dedication to my plants! But I have Dahlia's starting to flower. So there is hope. Groetjes from Holland, Hetty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2014 at 09:36

      Welcome to Veg Plotting Hetty :-) Dahlias are precious, so wel done on your dedication to them.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous6 June 2014 at 18:19

    Yup, I've thrown in the towel and got out the blue slug pellets. Nothing can get them on the netted deep beds anyway. Barely any beetroot came up, no carrots, no leaf celery. All scythed off by slugs, I reckon. So, I'm having to start again too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Caro6 June 2014 at 18:41

    Well done Veronica for capturing the mood of the moment! Like Flighty, I'm using organic slug pellets for the first time and am going to use slug wool around my replanted beans. It's just too too frustrating for words! Btw, Wendy (rooftopvegplot) interplants with pansies as a sacrificial crop and has come up with a genius idea for keeping slugs off lettuce which I'm starting to trial this weekend. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2014 at 09:40

      You've reminded me about my findings about slugs not liking red lettuces as much as the green. Must check that out again. I'm intrigued by Wendy's cunning plan you're trialing - do you mean the pansies or something else?

      Delete
  7. VP7 June 2014 at 09:32

    Hi Lorna, welcome! Scissors are the best - snip, snip and then leave them for the birds.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous7 June 2014 at 19:15

    I've been wanting a passion fruit plant for years, got one this year, planted it out, it did fine, until yesterday - totally nibbled to smithereens - as you write - constant vigilance or there won't be anything left of most things. Grrr. Apart from red lettuces, they really don't seem to go for them.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mrs Mac8 June 2014 at 23:56

    Ooo scissors...... hadn't thought of that!
    I'm looking for a bird friendly, hedgehog friendly anti-slug treatment!

    ReplyDelete
  10. AlisonC10 June 2014 at 10:59

    Whoever finds that solution will make a million!

    ReplyDelete

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