I've just moved into a new build in Scotland with my small kids, and I'm really struggling to manage our garden. Some lovely folks gave my children seeds to plant this summer, including tomatoes, pumpkins, courgettes, and beans. We're aware that Scotland isn't the best place for tomatoes, but we were thrilled to see our pumpkins thriving! We've been closely monitoring the vines and learning to identify female flowers, which has been a fun experience.
However, I'm now facing a huge slug problem. There are so many slugs in our garden devouring the pumpkin flowers and buds that I feel overwhelmed. It's like they come out in swarms at night! We've tried various methods to combat them like copper wire, nematodes, beer traps, and even walking around at night to pick them off. I attempted to cover the plants, but strong winds ended up damaging them. Despite our efforts, the traps fill up quickly, and the slugs still manage to munch on the plants. We've respected the RHS advice against using poison, but I'm starting to reconsider.
Our last baby pumpkin was eaten last night, and while there are still flowers on the vines, I don't think they'll have time to mature before frost hits. I plan to get a potting shed next year if the kids are still interested. My main question is: should I continue trying to deal with the slugs, or is there little point since I've clearly lost this battle? Will this effort help reduce numbers next year? What should I have been doing from the start?
3 Answers
Definitely read up more on nematodes. They might not always be readily available, but when applied correctly, they really might be your best option for winning the slug war.
Have you considered slug pellets? Unfortunately, the old organic ones I used are off the market, but ferric phosphate pellets work quite well. Just spread them around the vulnerable plants, and they could be the key to finally growing your rhubarb successfully.
Good idea! Just remember to follow the package directions to keep everything safe.
Nematodes are your best shot for next year! If you introduce them correctly, they can help reduce the slug population significantly. I've done this twice a year, and I usually end up with only a handful of slugs afterward.
Came here to say that! It's such a mess without them. Plus, they're safe to use even with pets around.
Absolutely, get on the nematode train! They’ve been a game-changer for me.
Yeah, I’ve done that before too. Just make sure to apply them carefully to keep them effective!