Thursday 19 June 2008

Slug Alert!!!!!


Usually I'm a news junkie, listening and reading to the news helps me feel in touch with the world. But just lately I've been trying to reduce my addiction because, quite frankly, it's utterly depressing.

So imagine my joy when visiting my dad, and fellow news junkie, with a dwindling willpower, leaving me to chance upon an article about the rise of the slug.

Yep, in the next couple of months we are going to be inundated with the creatures that have both male and female sex organs and can produce up to 200 eggs a season.

Thanks to a mild winter, wet spring or it raining four months ago last Tuesday their numbers will increas four fold. So something to look forward to then, because it doesn't look as if the summer is shaping up to much.

An expert was canvassed for their view and they suggested melon rinds, empty grapefruits and those nemotodes but to treat the soil before you plant. At this rate, my veg is going to cost double what it does in the shops, even with the hike in food prices.....

4 comments:

  1. I hate to say it but I go for the organic slug pellets when I plant out seedlings and this year, so far, Ihavent had a problem. Last year my seedlings were vanishing over night so I gave in. I also read that July and August arent meant to be great weather wise either - but ha we live in the UK what do we expect

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  2. A few of my things are being eaten, despite the organic pellets, but I'm not sure how it'll be when the slugs increase in number.

    I didn't know July and August were supposed to be horrid. Wonderful.

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  3. I'm a bit of a news junkie too. (I have been trying to cut down as Owen thinks teenagers may be the devils spawn from recent coverage). I missed the slug thing on the breakfast news yesterday as I was doing the last minute finding things for school ritual. I watched it on line this morning instead.
    If the slugs multiply on my plot I will be technically a slug farmer not a vegi grower.
    My one and only courgette has been eaten since being recently planted out despite use of slug pellets

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  4. I googled carrots and slugs and found your blog. You may be able to guess the reason why I googled that combination...

    I hate to say it, but the news was right and nearly all my seedlings have been gobbled- despite organic slug pellets. Grrrrrr...

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