slug experiment

[baldrick]

Diatomacious earth works on mites and such like by getting under the exoskelton or scales and abrading a hole in it which means the mites dehydrate.
Don't want to spread alarm but you should really use a mask when applying it as if breathed in it can give similar results to asbestos dust methinks, staying within the lungs.
I would imagine the slime created by a slug would stop it from working in a similar way to mites, although slugs and snails would find any abrasive material (even sand) uncomfortable.

ha ha I caused widespread panic on another forum by suggesting a silica based powder like DE may be a risk factor in silicosis.chook wise in future i will be adding it to water and painting it on thick, not just for me but I worry about the chooklets, even psychochicken! Ive seen silicosis asbestosis and emphysema in the course of my work and it aint pretty. Thanks for the warning tho snadge. People who wont smoke or eat a vegetable possibly at nodding terms with a fertiliser think nothing of using DE or cleaning out hay, straw and feathers. x

[baldrick]

I've got bad news Baldrick, I'm two years ahead of you in your experiment...and the news ain't all good.
Assuming that Slug Off is diatomaceous earth, which I think is safe to say, then what I've found is that it works fine when the weather is dry, but whenever the weather gets wet enough, it is much less of a barrier. So this year, I have ended up putting loads of it all over the place, on the basis that overall it will slow the little b*&^ers down as they travel to and from their dining tables. Later in the season I have still had a lot of slug damage on my brassicas, but it is noticeably worse where the leaves of a plant are touching the soil, or where I have not put repeated and widespread applications of Slug Off.
Next year I am thinking I will get Nemaslug, and use that in conjunction; I don't think anything is a magic bullet on its own. (Although I suppose the nematodes must come close.)
If you want to make Slug Off go much further, it is a good idea to pour some onto a flat surface and crush it with something (I use a spade), once made into smaller fragments it does just as good a job and covers a much wider area more completely.

hmmm. DE is already quite fine, but yes I agree. After rain it largely washes away on soil which is odd as it atays put round the legs of my chicken coops. Luckily I have to go to the lottie every day to sort the sunday dinners out so I can re apply as required. It is vastly vastly cheaper than slug pellets when bought in bulk so worth the experiment.

[Leeds_lad]

organic slug gel works a treat. Harmful to nothing but the nasty critters and the dead ones are safe to be eaten by anything that wants a nibble

[snohare]

I apply DE a handful at a time, and crush it likewise, outdoors but not in windy conditions because obviously that just loses it - but right enough, if you are squatted next to the bit you are crushing, be careful, silica is not good for lungs ! (Ask any miner.) Slug Off comes in pretty large granules rather than a powder - probably for that reason - so no PM5s or 10s (particles 5 or 10 microns in size - smaller is worse) until you crush it. At that point, I'd say it requires cautious handling.
How do you get yours ? How much does it cost ?
Leeds lad, what's this organic gel you speak of ? I haven't heard of any gels. Ferrous based ?