I recently direct sowed some beets, turnips, and rutabagas, carefully watering and covering them until they sprouted and reached about an inch tall. Unfortunately, I went out of town for a couple of days, and when I returned, I found that they had all been eaten down to the ground! I suspect slugs or pillbugs are the culprits. I know that some plants with taproots don't appreciate being transplanted, but I'm willing to try. What are some effective ways to protect my little seedlings from these pests while direct sowing?
3 Answers
You could check out your local Dollar Tree for affordable protective options! Just think creatively!
One solid option is to use Sluggo Plus. It's OMRI listed and effective against both slugs and pillbugs. Just a heads-up, though: it can harm some beneficial insects and earthworms, but it's one of the best methods if you're having a hard time this spring. You might want to spread the Sluggo a few days before sowing to reduce their numbers before your seedlings emerge.
A creative solution we have used is rolling rat 2’ wire fencing into tubes and then covering those with screen material. We place them over the seedlings every evening until they’re large enough to withstand the pesky munchers. It works pretty well!
True, wire trash bins are great for keeping out bigger animals like rabbits or squirrels, but unfortunately, they won’t do much against slugs or pillbugs.