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What has topped my lupins?

Leif
Leif Posts: 3,727 Forumite
I was given a couple of lupins by a neighbour so I planted them. The heads developed beautifully, and just as they opened, something severed each head near its base. The cut is clean, almost like a pen knife cut. What has done this? I see no signs of slime, and surely slugs cannot cut cleanly. My only thought is a local badger, but how would it do that? I know it does for a neighbour's beans.

Almost everything else has been destroyed by rain, gales, lack of sun and slugs. But clearly there is a 5th villain at large.
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Comments

  • Ken68
    Ken68 Posts: 6,825 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Energy Saving Champion Home Insurance Hacker!
    Sounds human, Lief...or a Triffid looking for a mate.
  • demystified
    demystified Posts: 263 Forumite
    Probably slugs, badgers are unlikely as lupins are poisonous I believe.
  • Leif
    Leif Posts: 3,727 Forumite
    Probably slugs, badgers are unlikely as lupins are poisonous I believe.

    I am sure subsequent attacks were slugs, the slime is now everywhere. Little sods.
    Warning: This forum may contain nuts.
  • Travelqueen
    Travelqueen Posts: 204 Forumite
    I hate slugs. I gave up with Lupins after 2 years of watching them nearly flower and then being eaten. I got my own back for a bit though with slug eating nematodes. mwahahaha.
    One day everything I earn will be mine and not the banks... ::rotfl:
  • savemoney
    savemoney Posts: 18,125 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    Slugs and snail love them. I just put lots of slug pellets down around them. I lost many a small lupin because of these pets
  • levis2891
    levis2891 Posts: 179 Forumite
    our lupins were lovely this year, but soon after the slugs started to devour them.

    i put egg shells around them (didn't want to use pellets) and around other plants which they were eating and it does deter them. although make sure there arnt already slugs on them already as that would defeat the point ;)

    as one of my lupins was looking so bad (all they left were the spines of the leaves), i just cut the whole plant to the base. i didn't realise you shouldn't do this until afterwards (instead pull off leaves when yellow). anyways, new shoots are already emerging so i think my plant might reflower this year :D
  • Leif
    Leif Posts: 3,727 Forumite
    Parts of my garden are covered in slime. I doubt I could grow much in my garden if I went organic, slugs eat everything. Well, you live and learn.

    It is a shame slugs are indigestible as they are high in protein and low in fat.
    Warning: This forum may contain nuts.
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