Runner Bean leaves been eaten

furndire

What has eaten every single leaf of what were my beautiful 2ft high runner bean plants? and what do I do to prevent it happening again - I've just bought some more - decided it would be quicker than waiting to grow from seed.
my neighbour suggested snails.
The plants are still trying to grow - there is one tiny leaf on the very top of one plant

misskool

probably slugs, any that I managed to germinate were decimated by them

purplepardalis

I've had real success with organic pet and wildlife safe slug pellets this year. And I have tons of slugs - well I used to. They are more expensive than bog standard pellets but it's good to know I'm only harming the slugs! Only a few of my runner bean leaves got nibbled

Spirit_2

Deer have eaten most of mine. A neighbour is giving me some spare plants.

purplepardalis

Spirit wrote: »

Deer have eaten most of mine. A neighbour is giving me some spare plants.

*Googles 'deer pellets'*

Farway

purplepardalis wrote: »

*Googles 'deer pellets'*

I think they may be made of lead & contained in 12 bore cartridges :rotfl:

Pssst

Heres a little tip for you re slugs.

Buy yourself a length of 22mm copper tubing and some 22mm copper elbows. Construct a copper square using the pipe and elbows such that it encircles the base of the plant leaving at least 4 inches allround between the base of the plant and the pipe. You dont need to solder the fittings,just slot them together. Now push the pipe into the surface of the soil so that there are no gaps underneath it. Make sure the soil is kept damp. Instant slug repellant.

HappyIdiotTalk

Pssst wrote: »

Heres a little tip for you re slugs.

Buy yourself a length of 22mm copper tubing and some 22mm copper elbows. Construct a copper square using the pipe and elbows such that it encircles the base of the plant leaving at least 4 inches allround between the base of the plant and the pipe. You dont need to solder the fittings,just slot them together. Now push the pipe into the surface of the soil so that there are no gaps underneath it. Make sure the soil is kept damp. Instant slug repellant.

Hummm, I was in Lidl last year, and they were selling some kind of copper tape to repel slugs... it works then! I wonder if its like biting into tin foil with a filling to them?

Pssst

Yes it is. The contact between the copper and the Moist soil creates a micro electrolytic charge which the moist slimey slugs just do not like.

It definitely works.

kazwookie

Mine are ok at the moment, but I have put plenty of slug peallets down.

theGrinch

most likely slugs/snails but I have spotted a squirrel at mine too.