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Wanted - a slug for experiment!

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  • #1

    Wanted - a slug for experiment!

    Don't read this while eating!
    Dog poo, left overnight, is covered in slugs by morning. My question is, are they also attracted to chicken manure pellets, the ones sold in big tubs as fertiliser.
    Potatoes planted in holes that have had a few poultry manure pellets added at planting time, seem to suffer slug damage. However, I don't know whether this is coincidence or because the slugs are drawn to the spuds because of the pellets.
    Does anyone know the answer or do I have to track down some slugs and serve them some pellets for breakfast?
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  • #2
    If you want slugs veggiechicken I can certainly donate plenty, I don't have an answer for you but can only make this observation and pose another question ; I planted approx 40 varieties of first early potatoes on trials to find which type best suited my garden. One criterion was resistance to slug damage and one only was adversely affected. The variety "rocket" was destroyed by slugs while the rest had little or no damage , same soil and same fertiliser(FYM) and all sown over a two day period. Why rocket and not the rest?

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    • #3
      Urgent. stop. Large 20 litre drum of slugs in post. Stop. No charge. Stop.

      I only grow in containers and have yet to find a slug in any of them.
      photo album of my garden in my profile http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...my+garden.html

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      • #4
        Rather than look for slugs, look for slug nematodes and apply at earthing up time. I was bothered with keeled slugs at one point and nematodes certainly sorted that problem out,

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        • #5
          Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post
          Potatoes ... have had a few poultry manure pellets
          I'd never add an alkaline product to a crop that prefers acidic conditions. In potatoes, alkalinity also increases the chances of scab


          As for slugs: put some slugs in an ice cream tub with a few pellets and see if they eat them. I did it recently with organic slug pellets, because I couldn't believe the rate I was getting through them.
          I discovered the slugs love them, and would eat 3, 4 or more at a serving.

          I don't know if they died though, because they all escaped from the tub overnight and disappeared. Doh

          Attached Files
          All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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          • #6
            I noticed that when I cut off the round top crust on bread to fit in the toaster and chuck em out the window onto the lawn for the birds, slugs make a bee line for them. so I pop out half an hour later with my sharp stick and teach them the error of their ways.
            Its Grand to be Daft...

            https://www.youtube.com/user/beauchief1?feature=mhee

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            • #7
              Have you & TS found a slug catcher,this way my lovely's,follow the trail up the ramp and fall in the salt path,all things worth a try
              sigpicAnother nutter ,wife,mother, nan and nanan,love my growing places,seed collection and sharing,also one of these

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              • #8
                You raise a valid point of food for thought....

                The slugs could be drawn by the smell of the pellet and even know that the smell signals a crop...
                Before you spray a single thing,
                sit down and read the silent spring.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by The poly tunnel poet View Post
                  You raise a valid point of food for thought....

                  The slugs could be drawn by the smell of the pellet and even know that the smell signals a crop...
                  VC have you been training your slugs? *pictures Grandad slug sitting in armchair passing on words of wisdom to avid sluglings*

                  My spuds have little or no slug damage this year (this might be hubris, one row of Desiree is still in the ground) and are planted with a handful of Supagro, which certainly smells chicken poo-based. I did water in some nematodes in July.
                  Last edited by sparrow100; 04-09-2014, 10:10 AM.
                  http://mudandgluts.com - growing fruit and veg in suburbia

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                  • #10
                    They will eat each other too.
                    When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it.
                    If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.

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                    • #11
                      Well that's an interesting question and I shall await the results of your trials with interest

                      Chicken manure leans towards being alkaline, but dog poop is acidic from the high protein in the dog food. So maybe slugs are more attracted to acidity? Perhaps that's why they are attracted to beer traps too.
                      Location - Leicestershire - Chisit-land
                      Endless wonder.

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                      • #12
                        I didn't use any fertiliser for my spuds and had no slug damage at all but this is my first year on this allotment.


                        Sent from my iPhone using Grow Your Own Forum
                        Bex

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