Slugs.... in the soil!

[chris]

... news to me! I didn't know they did that, I was wondering why I didnt see any slim trails, and just bite marks all over my pakchoi.

I popped my head under the netting and saw a couple pale colour ones coming out of the soil ready for their dinner! I made pancakes out of them, but was quite shocked.

Then I took a closer look, and saw a few small (1cm ish) black ones coming out the soil! WHAT!

I've been out there for a while snipping the beggers in half as they emerge. I think they're breeding in my beds... Would the best way to deal with these annoying little ones (quite difficult to see as their dark brown/black) be nematodes?

[Jeanied]

The giant radioactive orange ones are not the slugs you need to watch out for, CM. In fact they are the waste disposal operatives on the plot. The nasty, vindictive, destructive ones are the little so-and-sos that live in the soil and go for nice juicy new growth.
If I recall correctly, that is. Doubting myself today tbh!!

[binley100]

Well they have to live somewhere they don't have a mobile home like a snail....those little black ones are sneaky destructive things .

[Jeanied]

Whew I was right - in parts!
Have a look at this link about the different slugs...
Bad Slugs: Learn to Recognise the Garden Pests ~ SLUG OFF

[coreopsis]

Whew I was right - in parts!
Have a look at this link about the different slugs...
Bad Slugs: Learn to Recognise the Garden Pests ~ SLUG OFF

Thanks for the link Jeanied-it only confirms the phrase I heard somewhere(regarding slugs)

If it's black-put it back,if it's brown-grind it down

[FB.]

Little black slugs less than half-inch long are the main pest of our potato/carrot and other below-ground crops.

[Two_Sheds]

Would the best way to deal with these annoying little ones (quite difficult to see as their dark brown/black) be nematodes?

You can't eradicate all of them, nor would you want to (they're part of the great circle of life and all that).

Cheaper than nematodes would be to place upturned half-grapefruit skins around your pakchoi: the slugs will congregate underneath and you can then throw them to some chickens, or salt them.

[northepaul]

Whew I was right - in parts!
Have a look at this link about the different slugs...
Bad Slugs: Learn to Recognise the Garden Pests ~ SLUG OFF

Thanks for the link, Jeanie - most informative!

[HeyWayne]

The giant radioactive orange ones are not the slugs you need to watch out for, CM.

Amen to that Jeanie! Slugs, muerte viscosa (1988)

[Jeanied]

Eeeewwww HW - the idea of a glove with slugs in ...

[pipscariad]

It may be tempting fate to say it, but so far there are a lot less slugs down at my plot than there was this time last year. I spent 20 mins this morning seeking them out and feeding them to the chooks (sooooo satisfying!), and all of them were the sort mentioned in the article - the small, destructive ones . I'm trying bran as a deterrent this year, so watch this space on its efficiency, but as the attached pic, taken this morning, shows, it would seem to be attractive to them.

[chris]

Thanks for the link above..

The yellowey ones were again eating my turnips.. so they were cut in two..good or not.

Thanks for the link Jeanied-it only confirms the phrase I heard somewhere(regarding slugs)

If it's black-put it back,if it's brown-grind it down

all the black ones were munching on my crop too, so they had it. Plus the snails, argh !

It may be tempting fate to say it, but so far there are a lot less slugs down at my plot than there was this time last year. I spent 20 mins this morning seeking them out and feeding them to the chooks (sooooo satisfying!), and all of them were the sort mentioned in the article - the small, destructive ones . I'm trying bran as a deterrent this year, so watch this space on its efficiency, but as the attached pic, taken this morning, shows, it would seem to be attractive to them.

I may try this too, once the weather brightens up again


just got back from another sucessful hunt.

22 little black ones
2 yellowey ones
2 huge snails
4 baby snails

all nicely presented in bite-size pieces for the birds breakie tomorrow!