Grow Your Own Magazine

Anyone know whether it is good to use nematode slugkiller now, or wait till warmer? I read it is okay for everything else including edibles, true?

B&G

I've used this quite a few times - I really rate it, and applied some to my freshly planted strawberry patch in October. The ground must be a minimum temperature though, I think it's probably still too cold. I usually buy mine from greengardener.

http://www.greengardener.co.uk/slug.htm

As nematodes are naturally occurring slug parasites, you are only boosting what is probably already there (no chemicals or poisons) so there are no ill-effects for anybody - except the slugs!

Greengardener also sells staged release packs - you pay once up front, and they send you a pack every few weeks (3,4,5 or 6 applications sent at 6 week intervals )

I think it's worth you giving it a go!

I also found it reduced the number of snails.

Vik

Have used them before but not until about Easter time - they're pretty expensive but do work. OH was more impressed than me and I've been too tight to use them for a few years now!

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I get mine from Thomson&Morgan, they send them out when the time is right, usually mid march.

My wife was a little sceptical until she saw how wonderful her Hosta's came up without any slug damage. Really does work but better to wait a while yet

Darren

I've used the leather jacket nematodes before, with great success - but they needed the soil temp to above 10 degrees - might be the same for the slug ones.

Happy to hear success stories, it is not that expensive considering what damage one slug can do in a day!!

Hi I've used these in the past & they do seem to work to some extent but are really only any good for small slugs which live underground, they didn't seem to affect the giant ones. It's too early to use them yet, the ground needs to be a certain temperature, I think end of March-early April is about right & you should use them again in the autumn. I'm not using them this year though as I want to encourage frogs, hedgehogs etc. & don't want to deprive them of all their food!

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I sell Nemaslug commercially (to growers, not the public), and reading from my product information.....

'treatment should be applied when slugs are present, in spring and autumn. Soil or media temperatures should be between 5 and 30 degrees centigrade for at least 2 weeks after application, the soil or media MUST be moist.'

In my experience, if the soil dries out in the summer it won't work - the nematoes dessicate unless there is sufficient moisture. However, if you keep the soil moisture up you should get 6 weeks control from one application.

Hope this helps.

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I'm plagued with slugs and snails, even in 'dry' East Angular. I put a carpet, or sheet of black plastic, down on the ground. Let the slugs congregate underneath, then open it up to the birds. Good luck with the nematodes tho.

Thanks Vik for the link to greengardener, those bad slugs have munched through two basil seedlings and a big chunk of broad bean leaf!!! grrrr! wasnt sure what to do coz i cant use slug pellets as i have dogs and dont want to affect any wildlife visitors to my garden, so im gonna try that and see if it works!

Glad to have been able to help.

I think I saw in the March GYO mag that a new slug pellet has been approved for organic gardening

http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalo...oducts_id=1821

Always nice to have a few options!

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http://viks-garden.blogspot.com/

Absolutely right - the ferrous phosphate slug pellets are suitable for organics. They've been used commercially for a year or so now so its nice that 'Joe public can get hold of them at last!

Although - just a thought - pellets only work on the slugs that come to the surface, the most damage done by slugs in underground (think of your potatoes) where the pellets are ineffective. A 2-pronged approach might be the answer!

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There's vegetable growing in the family, but I must be adopted
Happy Gardening!