Slugs and snails are a problem here too. I guess the healthier the garden the more visitors. We have several lines of defence to dissuade them. Our volume growing vege gardens are all incased in wooden boxes and covered with insect netting. This keeps 95% of the critters out. For the determined remainder we use copper coils around every plant within the boxes that they like to eat. We made the copper coils from old electrical wiring that we salvaged. Slugs and snails will not cross over the copper as it creates a chemical reaction similar to electrolysis. The other alternative to copper coils is to run a copper wire completely around the perimeter of the garden as some of our friends have done and this works too as long as debris doesn't cover the wire. The other reason we use the copper coils for our leaf veges is that they require copper to grow well and our soils in the Wairarapa contain very little. We also use rhubard leaf spray for the leaf veges growing in our food forest. This is fine for these plants as they are our seed bank plants. Rhubard being toxic shouldnt be used consistently on leaf plants as they mature. But this organic spray will deter all unwanted critters, including aphids. I steep the Rhu leaves in a barrel of water for a week and they add a fixer to it like organic soap suds. I have a pile of other remedies but these are the ones that work best for us and dont involve killing anything.
I have heard a few people say about the increase of slugs this year due to the mild, damp weather. I do use some copper tape rings around some plants , but don’t have enough for them all. I like the sound of the rhubarb spray, I think I will be trying that one 😊 it sounds like you have conducted lots of experiments over the years to get to the stage of what works for you, thank you for sharing some of these with us all here. 🤗
Think I've got it - slug hunt, no hosepipe in the polytunnel, watering can only. You need to get that bloke of yours to build you an irrigation system!
It's just a case of fingers crossed and hope the weather complies when I have time away. Temporary waterers sometimes forget or miss some areas but I don't go away for long periods of time. Your garden is looking really good. =-)
Slugs and snails are a problem here too. I guess the healthier the garden the more visitors. We have several lines of defence to dissuade them. Our volume growing vege gardens are all incased in wooden boxes and covered with insect netting. This keeps 95% of the critters out. For the determined remainder we use copper coils around every plant within the boxes that they like to eat. We made the copper coils from old electrical wiring that we salvaged. Slugs and snails will not cross over the copper as it creates a chemical reaction similar to electrolysis. The other alternative to copper coils is to run a copper wire completely around the perimeter of the garden as some of our friends have done and this works too as long as debris doesn't cover the wire. The other reason we use the copper coils for our leaf veges is that they require copper to grow well and our soils in the Wairarapa contain very little. We also use rhubard leaf spray for the leaf veges growing in our food forest. This is fine for these plants as they are our seed bank plants. Rhubard being toxic shouldnt be used consistently on leaf plants as they mature. But this organic spray will deter all unwanted critters, including aphids. I steep the Rhu leaves in a barrel of water for a week and they add a fixer to it like organic soap suds. I have a pile of other remedies but these are the ones that work best for us and dont involve killing anything.
I have heard a few people say about the increase of slugs this year due to the mild, damp weather. I do use some copper tape rings around some plants , but don’t have enough for them all. I like the sound of the rhubarb spray, I think I will be trying that one 😊 it sounds like you have conducted lots of experiments over the years to get to the stage of what works for you, thank you for sharing some of these with us all here. 🤗
PS...I was really impressed with your poly tunnel, its thriving and looks beautiful, as does the rest of the property. x
Thank you so much 🤗
Think I've got it - slug hunt, no hosepipe in the polytunnel, watering can only. You need to get that bloke of yours to build you an irrigation system!
Lol, it’s ok I’ll write a list too 🤗
It's just a case of fingers crossed and hope the weather complies when I have time away. Temporary waterers sometimes forget or miss some areas but I don't go away for long periods of time. Your garden is looking really good. =-)
Thank you Lorraine. I hope the weather retreats us well so there are just the covered areas to take care of. 🤗