think I'm going to give up with veg growing...

lobbyludd

if it's not the slugs, it's rats, at least that is what I presume has eaten the carrots and winter squash seedlings over night, as there are no slug trails.

Inner city garden, surrounded by essentially derelict beer soaked student gardens, there'll be 20,000 slugs and probably as many rats within chomping distance. I was going to pot out the tomatoes today but it just seems utterly pointless. I'm not relying on the produce, the point is to show the kids where food comes from, but something edible for our efforts is necessary and this is costing me money and lots of precious time.

we grew all the time as a child and through into adulthood, I'm no novice and I am just at the end of my tether trying to produce anything here.

I got a mere 5 carrots and some broad beans last year, but in contrast that seems like abundance: everything is being eaten this time round, my damson has died, the sawfly are seriously threatening the goosegog plants (and I'll get no fruit from them this year).

just thoroughly fed up with it all. harumph.

Rummer

Oh dear! Been there and know how you feel!

REEN

I sympathise. Cats as well here. I'm trying salad stuff in pots with copper tape round them to keep the slugs off, twigs around to stop cats using them as litter trays. Tomatoes in hanging baskets did ok once, maybe you could try those? Not a great yield but might do for your purposes.

wellused

We have deer to contend with on our allotments.

lobbyludd

deer! well half the tomatoes are potted up as are the peppers and they are dotted inside and out at various heights, on windowsils etc, I am considering putting the remainder in the loft with the velux open - I get ladybirds up there, but I'm hoping against slugs.

The slugs get into hanging baskets, I've seen them navigate along a spiders web - I may enter them for britain's got talent, or sell them to the secret service, there must be some use for the darn things. Otherwise a buttery garlic sauce and a much stronger stomach is increasingly looking like the only way to get anything of nutritional value out of this garden.

TallGirl

I'm sure there is slugs already in the compost we buy as they do seem to get everywhere. Have you tried nermatodes expensive but does work for me. I also start most of my veg in seed tray then pot on until quite big before they go outside. Makes then more resistant.

Also I do spray for sawfly and I have no problem with slug pellets sorry for those who disagree

I wouldn't give up seems a shame.

lobbyludd

thanks Tall-girl, I guess I'll have to go back to nematodes, it did keep them somewhat at bay for the year I used them, but it costs so much even for a small garden that I'll have to forego it until next year when hopefully finances are on more of an even keel; it doesn't make economic sense to spend so much to grow veg which as it's in season I can buy cheaply, unless I concentrate on a much more expensive crop than carrots.

Still I guess the kids are getting the full grow-your-own experience!

the herbs are fine as usual and the apples seem good so it's not all bad: I've shoved some peas in around the fruit trees in stubborness (free seeds so may as well).

EmmaB1

For slugs regular slug killer, sharp sand and I think it's cooper tape that gives them an electric shock work with the slug killer the best. When plants are small I grow them in a pot until they're large enough to go in the earth.

Rats though I've not encountered problems with. Although I hear they hate the smell of peppermint (well peppermint oil anyway). Could you start growing peppermint near your carrots?

TallGirl

lobbyludd wrote: »

Still I guess the kids are getting the full grow-your-own experience!

the herbs are fine as usual and the apples seem good so it's not all bad: I've shoved some peas in around the fruit trees in stubborness (free seeds so may as well).

That's the spirit also don't forget you can swap Tesco vouchers for Thompson and Morgan vouchers which then makes them half price. I usually order the three pack and they send them at intervals saves postage too.

toastking

I live in London and although I am a relative novice (first time) I've found success in using a propagator which only cost £12 from Tesco - but it keeps the many cats and rats away.

Yes you'd think with all the cats there would be no rats, but boxes in my shed say otherwise!

We've gotten a crop of about 20 tomatoes and a single pepper so far. With only one pepper casualty where a caterpillar got in.

I've spent probably £100 on the lot so far, but the propagators (have 2 now) and tools will last beyond this year so hopefully just need seeds, compost where I cannot make enough and I'll probably get something out of it again next year.

I am going to try the mint thing in my shed and around the propogators.