Slugs and nematodes

[Deleted User]

Slugs are affecting all gardeners and are a hugely destructive pest. I forgot about two lovely lettuces growing in a trough at home, that I had watered from below and accidentally left on the ground, near a wall, to drain. I went out at 6am and they are chomped, down to less than half size and there were two long fat slugs in the trough, with mouth parts hanging onto lettuce leaves. Grhh but it does make me appreciate the measures I have taken in my allotment

I put two packs of nematodes down just over two weeks ago, before the rains and over the last week have been planting out young and tender veg plants like runner beans, courgettes, squash and brassicas. Every year they have been eaten, so that it was hit and miss. This year and up to last night, every single one of these baby plants has survived without a bite on them. I do use belt and braces and put just a tiny sprinkle of pellets out for the snails but tbh I am amazed and delighted at the nematode effect and will most definitely use them next year. Timing is crucial as they need damp and my allotment only gets watered with a can, so I must have rain. They cost me a total of £22 but it is worth it just to get the veg started properly

I have tried everything else over my gardening lifetime but nothing is better than the nematodes. I was almost put off by the cost but I will get that £22 back via the veg

I believe that they take 2 weeks to multiply enough to work and there is no point putting them down when in a drought

forgotmyname

I was reading a bit on harvesting nematodes. Save some of the slugs.snails you find and chuck them in a bucket of water.

Im sure there was something else you chucked in? But they multiply so you have more for nothing,

moments_of_sanity

I have used nematodes this year for the first time and after having it down for a week I think we are finally beginning to see so e results.

A couple of night ago I went out and every single lap of the garden I found more snails and slugs, totalling about 30 of the horrible things.....last night I dragged DH out again (he is torch bearer) and we only found 5

When my seedlings were in the greenhouse, I watered them with the nematodes, kind of thinking that when I repotted them the nematodes would move with them. Last year my peas and French beans failed epically due to slugs and snails but this year I am over run with peas and French beans! :j

They seem to be well worth the money and I only used a 40sqm pack on a 70sqm size garden as that was all I could afford.

[Deleted User]

I am just back from the allotment, having planted frenchies yesterday. Every single little transplanted veg is still good all over the allotment, not one missing. I am completely gobsmacked. At home, slugs have chomped their way through potato leaves in a bag. It was a perfect night for slugs, cooler and damp. I cannot see nematodes having the same good effect in a drought but hey ho, at least this year, I am happy at having spent money