All my seedlings eaten at the allotment.

notwithit??

Its soo frustrating when you go...all excited and there is nothing left. This is my 4th year at the allotment and never gets any easier...i get obsessed with the horrible slimy things, i found this worked for me last yr so am doing it again now!!
I get everyone to save their eggshells and collect them in big bags, crush them all up and spread them round the outer bed and slug pellets near the seedlings.
It rips all their guts out trying to cross it and then the slug pellets get the others who dare to make it across unscathed! LOL, you do need a lot of eggshells tho to keep at them.

Orange_King

Slugs have been a regular feature in our garden for years - they were always attracted to the Arum Lilys but in the past 3/4 years I have gone on the offensive with pellets and they are doing the business. I have fenced off most of the plots and then sprinkle the pellets where they could get in and it seems to get most.

Last year the big problem was butterflys - will be prepared to defend my brocolli (and sprouts?) with nets.

I really like the idea of having a special pair of sacrificial scissors.

rosie383

My problem apparently is deer. Our plot is the nearest to where they always seem to be able to break through the fence, and they are happily munching. We want to put netting up. Any idea where I can buy some that is not too expensive. The only ones I have found so far are from poundland (cr*p!!!!!) and £12 for wire mesh 6m x 1.5m and we would end up needing to buy about 6 of those so it's not cost effective. Any ideas anyone? Alternatives?

jellymid

Would you be allowed to have a little pond area? Just a half dustbin would be enough to get some frogspawn going. Having frogs on our allotment has made a huge difference to the slug population, and all the other plots nearby benefit, too!

Our pond is the cast iron bath that was left by previous tenants. We couldn't think what else to do with it.

Wishing you well.

Lotus-eater

So is the OP still giving up, or what? We need to know.

If you are, let us know and sell us some cheap tunnels

If you're not, bout time for you to start planning what slug proof crops to grow, isn't it?

zarazara

Yes. Been thinking about it. Have found its ok to grow fruit trees eg apples, also gooseberry bushes,rhubarb and anything from the onion family. Also mints and loveage.There are several flowering plants,I might just dig a few of these in and get some flowering plants for the house. Have some potatoes in, they are just showing and seem ok.
I would like to try other things but the slug and snail prevention costs are prohibative.
I am considering just one tunnel of ????????? I dont know yet, heavily guarded with pellets and copper. Still thinking about it all.

zarazara

I am keen on the pond idea. might see if i can give it a try. Also I think I will aim to grow salad stuff and herbs at home instead. Will be able to go out at night and get the slugs that way.

[Deleted User]

we went to see our new (potential) allotment. Just have to exchange first and then I`ll feel safe. lol, I already bought the garden tools. It is in a very lovely tranquil place and in the open but sheltered at one short end. It isn`t massive ie just 1000 sq feet but I`ll make it very productive in time. First things first and my dh will be building a large compost bin as that is going to be the food source for the plants. I was so happy to see that the strip is just long grass and no nasty weeds and I notice that there are a lot of horses grazing around the village so that is my manure sorted

Now I want to find some tool or other that I can use to `mow` the grass as I want to get it composting asap. I have already had a useful response about getting rid of weeds so cardboard here I come. At least I`ll be able to get something or other into the ground this summer through the cardboard and the rest will just lie fallow under weed suppressant or plastic or cardboard

I noticed very high fencing all around so there are deer locally and I didn`t see any sign of rabbit damage. Like zarazara, I too am going to grow salad stuff and herbs at home so that I can stay on top of the slugs

On my patio here I have courgettes, dwarf runner beans (hestia), swiss chard, tomatoes and potatoes. All in black buckets. At the moment the toms are in and out every day and lately they are all (except the potatoes) in at night. What dreadful growing weather and such a short season for those in the north

SusieWoosie

I can vouch for the suggestion about a no-man's land around the allotment. Last year I removed the grass paths from the middle and one side of my allotment (couldn't do the other side as it's a shared path), kept it completely clear of weeds and sprinkled a light covering of grit on it. I also put a wooden board against the shared grass path and dug a small, grit filled trench next to it. I sowed several rows of salad leaves straight into the ground and none were touched by slugs. My strawberries were also completely untouched for the first time!

lynzpower

Nothing much to add zara, but I really feel for you, I know myself how disheaartening it is - the birds have had loads of my stuff, and I literally was furious at them, fighting back the tears.

Wish I had something good to offer you, but alas I dont lol!