Author: rosamundheathcote

Garden Pests, Vegetable Gardening4 Comments

How to Stop the Slugs: Final attempts

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The slug set up, a photo by ourgreenthumbs on Flickr. So, we’ve cleared the overgrown patch next door. We’ve put mulching and egg shell, even a little bramble around the plants we’ve wanted to protect. We’ve set beer traps, saturated the soil with nematodes and at points of absolute obsession gone out in the rain, with a torch and a bottle of salt water. All of our attempts have not been in vain, each one has had some or at least a little success, and I feel the once abundant population of slugs and snails in our garden has considerably … Continue reading How to Stop the Slugs: Final attempts

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How to Stop the Slugs. Attempt 4: Bulldoze Slimetown

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Cleared the other side, a photo by ourgreenthumbs on Flickr. So, quite simply we took action. As you can see next door’s garden, a once overgrown jungle of weeds and decaying shrubs has been cleared. (don’t worry the owner said to do what we needed to do to protect our veggies). Three people, 5 hours later and the space is cleared. If you have a problem with killing slugs/snails please stop reading now. With a heavy heart, I’m afraid to say we filled a bottle with water and salt and commenced with quite honestly a massacre. Initially I was throwing … Continue reading How to Stop the Slugs. Attempt 4: Bulldoze Slimetown

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The Patch mulched.

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The Patch mulched.

Well it’s been a while. In fact almost a month since my last post.

We’ve been trying to maintian the patch as well as possible. And, despite the horrendous rain we’ve been experiencing (wettest June in my lifetime I’m sure of it) and the high speed winds. Our patch has, for the mostpart. survived.

As you can see in the picture, we’ve currently got Strawberries, Cauliflowers, Beetroot (one plant!), Romanesco, Courgette (Zucchini), Carrots, Leeks, and Lettuces.

We also have a Tomatoes, a Dwarf Bean plant, Peas, and a recently purchased Cucumber plant that aren’t visible in the picture.

Today I weeded and mulched with straw. As advised on many blogs/sites, mulching seems to be super important to keep the plants ventilated, leaves elivated, it prevents weeds planting themselves and spouting after the rain, it keeps th moisture in the ground and it deters slugs and snails apparently! All wins in my opinion.

If you have any tips/guidence on mulching please let us know, as I fear this may fly away when the winds pick up!!

Continue reading The Patch mulched.

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UPDATE: How to Stop the Slugs. Attempt 3: Nematodes

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Slugs gotten by the nematodes, a photo by ourgreenthumbs on Flickr. So, we used the whole pack in one night. You add a quarter of a pack at a time to a whole watering. Daniel covered all the foliage and soil. On the pack it says it takes around a week to start working…after around 3 days we started to see results. The nematodes cause the slugs to dehydrate. Losing their slime (eurgh) and eventually ending up as dead bits of dry rubber. Below is what can only be described as the preliminary stage to the above and seemed to … Continue reading UPDATE: How to Stop the Slugs. Attempt 3: Nematodes

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Our seeds @ 8 days

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Our seeds @ 8 days, a photo by ourgreenthumbs on Flickr. So the beetroots aren’t doing a lot, bar two on the left. Everything seems to be doing alright! Not sure the speed of everything, so need to do some research on when to actually plant them! We lost a load to birds, frost and slugs last month. So fingers crossed this month we’ll have a better chance!! Any tips on planting Romanesco, Lettuce, Carrots, Beetroots, Leeks, Cauliflower, Courgettes (Zucchini for our friends across the pond) and dwarf beans your help is appreciated!! 🙂 Continue reading Our seeds @ 8 days

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How to Stop the Slugs. Attempt 3: Nematodes

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Slug killer!, a photo by ourgreenthumbs on Flickr. OMGOMGOMGZOMG Slug Killer!!! Ahem. What has happenned? Well, concerningly I got very excited when the Slug Killer arrived in the post this morning. After reading about Nemaslug it really did seem like our best option! It’s natural, no chemicals, safe for wildlife, children, pets, bees. It just doesn’t like slimey things! Which, is fine by us!   We will apply tonight and update you on the results!! Continue reading How to Stop the Slugs. Attempt 3: Nematodes

Garden Pests6 Comments

How to Stop the Slugs. Attempt 2: Crushed Eggshells

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Crushed eggshell, a photo by ourgreenthumbs on Flickr. So, ok we were a little sceptical about this one. And, to be honest it’s probably been crushed it a little too small. Perhaps a little too enthusiastic with the pestle and mortar (its rather satisfying). Anyway, Daniel is away and I didn’t even fancy eggs this morning. But I had one, I know what dediciation, what a trooper! Anyways, I’ve scattered it around all the plants. I’ve ordered some Nemaslug Slug Killer due to arrive next week. I have high hopes! But in the meantime, hopefully this’ll do something…anything?!? Continue reading How to Stop the Slugs. Attempt 2: Crushed Eggshells

Vegetable Gardening1 Comment

How to stop the slugs. Attempt 1: Beer

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, a photo by ourgreenthumbs on Flickr. So first attempt. Beer. A bowl of lager preferably buried so that the lip of the bowl is level with the soil. Slugs are apparently attracted to the yeast in beer and drown rather quickly after getting drunk (there are worse ways to die). We planted these peas into the soil on Monday 7th May, and we put three tubs of beer down the very same evening. It has now been down for 4 nights and we’ve caught around 6 tiny slugs and 2 out of 8 plants have been stripped of leaves, … Continue reading How to stop the slugs. Attempt 1: Beer

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Salvaged Carrots

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Salvaged Carrots, a photo by ourgreenthumbs on Flickr. So on our first attempt a veggie gardening this year, we planted carrots and leeks straight into the ground. 3 weeks later we put our beautifully sprouted cauliflowers, courgettes (Zucchini), and Butternut squashes in the patch. After 2 weeks everything, bar 5 carrots, 5 leeks and 2 butternut squashes survived. Everything else had been eaten, not even a stump remained of most. Slugs my friends. Goddamn slugs. So we’ve dug up what was left and have raised them in pots until we can solve the slug problem. We’ve started again with the … Continue reading Salvaged Carrots