Compact veg garden

Food, Nutrition and Agriculture
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Jamesey1981
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Re: Compact veg garden

Post by Jamesey1981 »

I tried the diatomaceous earth that's supposed to repel slugs but it only works when it's dry, and when it's dry the slugs aren't a problem!
Copper does work, I stripped a few feet of twin and earth and have that wrapped around my apple tree, on a morning when it's been damp overnight you can see a whole load of snails just below it as they didn't want to go any further.

I'm trying to find some kind of slug poison that won't harm anything else, it's going to have to be the nematodes though I think, when all else fails biological warfare is the way to go!

What I really need is some hedgehogs, but we have a badger sett nearby so they've all been eaten.
That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die.
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shocker
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Re: Compact veg garden

Post by shocker »

Dont get me started about bloody badgers :evil: ...anyway, hedgehogs taste awful ;)

You are right mate, I have never found those methods particularly effective either but I thought that I was probably me cocking it up...it usually is ! How about a layer of Vermiculite on top of the compost/soil ? They may have trouble crossing that and its not harmful to the plants...just an idea, dont know if it would work but it may be worth a try if you have any laying about.
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Brambles
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Re: Compact veg garden

Post by Brambles »

Vermiculite doesn't work I'm afraid (tried it, failed) One thing that works well for me is the artistic placement of Holly leaves or sprigs to form a continiuous barrier around what you want to protect, I also place Holly sprigs in line along rows of germinating seed. Works a treat, isn't affected by weather (apart from wind) and only needs replacing if the leaves deteriorate before the plants are too big to cope with slug damage.
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shocker
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Re: Compact veg garden

Post by shocker »

...and my holly tree just died :cry: ...I reckon that bloody Leylandii throttled him under the cover of darkness :shock:
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featherstick
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Re: Compact veg garden

Post by featherstick »

Beer and milk traps work but are icky to clear out.

Coffee grounds work up to a point if you can get enough and if they are relatively dry. I used to get them from my local Starbucks on the way home.

Going out at night with a torch and a pair of scissors is a great way of keeping the population down, specially as the plot is in the back garden.

Nematodes work but are very expensive and need to go on every 6 weeks or so.

Growing the plant in module and planting out when larger helps, if you have the space, as a slug can demolish a row of seedlings in a night.

Good luck.
Yorkshire Andy
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Re: Compact veg garden

Post by Yorkshire Andy »

If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong ;)

Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
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Jamesey1981
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Re: Compact veg garden

Post by Jamesey1981 »

Yorkshire Andy wrote:Thinking of trying this

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/ga ... -home.html
I bet that stinks, would imagine it works though, might give it a try.
That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die.
Yorkshire Andy
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Re: Compact veg garden

Post by Yorkshire Andy »

Well stuff is green and growing

Carrots one bunch is getting second leaves now. Others just sprouting

Radishs are the size of 10mm ball bearings

Parsnips are coming

Onions are well away

broccoli is away too

Tomato , peppers, chillie, and sweet corn are still in my makeshift cold frame

Need some warm weather to bring them on
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong ;)

Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
Yorkshire Andy
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Re: Compact veg garden

Post by Yorkshire Andy »

IMG_20170511_171918556.jpg
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong ;)

Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
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ukpreppergrrl
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Re: Compact veg garden

Post by ukpreppergrrl »

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread YA! It's inspired me, after 2 years of procrastination, to get on with my shed-top veg plot! A bit late for some crops but hey, now the infrastructure is in I'm good to go for next year. :D
Blog: http://ukpreppergrrl.wordpress.com
التَكْرَارُ يُعَلِّمُ الحِمارَ "Repetition teaches the donkey" Arabic proverb
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