A bit confused about damage to crops...

EmptyPockets

I'm having a real scratching-ones-head moment and wondered if you might shed some light on a problem for me?!

Last week we finally got around to thinning out our swede and cabbage plants, and since then they're doing really well and have doubled in size. However, the second morning after thinning, we noticed that something (slugs?) was starting to have a go at the leaves. There were big munch holes in the leaves, so we decided we'd have to get something to cover them each night. Finally collected enough bottles to be able to cut them in half, and for the past 4/5 nights, have been covering each plant with plastic bottle tops/bottoms.

But it doesn't seem to me to be solving the problem :think: I'm sure I'm not imagining it: each morning when I remove the bottles, it looks like further damage has been done.

At the moment, it doesn't look like the plants are suffering too much because of this, but even so we'd prefer to stop it if we can. Is it slugs... is it possible for them to get under the bottles and back out again?! Very confused and bewildered.

SallyForth_2

Small/baby slugs bury themselves in the soil.

annie123

put a dish with a little beer in it in the area, set at soil level and the slugs should be attracted to that.
I have found over the years that bottles are good at stopping big snails but not so good with slugs, and yes they hide in the soil in the day and come out at night to much.

EmptyPockets

annie123 wrote: »

put a dish with a little beer in it in the area, set at soil level and the slugs should be attracted to that.
I have found over the years that bottles are good at stopping big snails but not so good with slugs, and yes they hide in the soil in the day and come out at night to much.

Ooh the little bleeders! lol.

Right, thank you for the beer tip; I'm sure DH will be happy for me to put THAT on the shopping list this week

We do have some slug pellets under the sink, but I've been reluctant to try putting them around the plants as we have the birdtable and baths not far away, and at the moment our garden is absolutely alive with young chicks and families of birds visiting for food and water, I didn't know if the pellets would harm them if they had a peck...

elantan

there have been tests showing that the slug repellant is also getting into the drinking water system ... would try the beer trap first ... also you could just use yeast and water mixed ... put a lid over it (they like it dark) and a wee stick or something at the side so that the beetles etc can climb out ... they will have a hangover but atleast they wont drown

EmptyPockets

Well I tried the beer suggestion last night. I put two bowls out, one each end of the row of swede, set at soil level... went out this morning to check it. No casualties of the slug variety (well, no casualties at all) BUT someone or something has still been having a ball in the night. There are fresh munch-marks all over the swede again :mad:

Strangely though, they don't seem (yet) to be bothering with the cabbage, beans, peas, rocket OR beetroot. Just the flippin' swede

Isn't there a way I could use salt around the base of each plant without the birds being harmed by it - would the birds even bother with salt? Whatever we try, the birds are my biggest concern...

stilernin

EmptyPockets wrote: »

Isn't there a way I could use salt around the base of each plant without the birds being harmed by it - would the birds even bother with salt? Whatever we try, the birds are my biggest concern...

I don't think that the plants would like salt...... a bit like growing in the sea me'thinks.

In fact, I use salt to get rid of dandelions on the drive.

annie123

EmptyPockets wrote: »

Well I tried the beer suggestion last night. I put two bowls out, one each end of the row of swede, set at soil level... went out this morning to check it. No casualties of the slug variety (well, no casualties at all) BUT someone or something has still been having a ball in the night. There are fresh munch-marks all over the swede again :mad:

Strangely though, they don't seem (yet) to be bothering with the cabbage, beans, peas, rocket OR beetroot. Just the flippin' swede

Isn't there a way I could use salt around the base of each plant without the birds being harmed by it - would the birds even bother with salt? Whatever we try, the birds are my biggest concern...

In that case it could be cabbage white butterfly caterpillar.
http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/problem-solving/garden-pests-cabbage-white-caterpillars/

I have read that garlic spray has some effect but its not a problem I've had.

Or move the beer traps closer to the area being munched, just in case they didn't feel like wandering too far.

bottlehalffull

Get the cheapy own label beer thats 4 for a quid (Nothing dearer than that)
The slugs don't need posh beer.

Make sure you top it up at night when they're most active.

I have sat and watched the blighters speed in for a beer swim.

EmptyPockets

bottlehalffull wrote: »

Get the cheapy own label beer thats 4 for a quid (Nothing dearer than that)
The slugs don't need posh beer.

Make sure you top it up at night when they're most active.

I have sat and watched the blighters speed in for a beer swim.

That's the one we bought And I put it out just before dark lastnight. Will try it again tonight though: have left the bowls in situ so will just top them up if necessary tonight. I only half-filled the bowls so perhaps tonight I will FILL!

EmptyPockets

annie123 wrote: »

In that case it could be cabbage white butterfly caterpillar.
http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/problem-solving/garden-pests-cabbage-white-caterpillars/

I have read that garlic spray has some effect but its not a problem I've had.

Or move the beer traps closer to the area being munched, just in case they didn't feel like wandering too far.

Hmmm, thanks for that. I'm heading off to have a root around, see if I can see anything lol!

I do have the beer traps right at each end of the row, can't get them any closer.