Butternut squash is one thing that really seems to do well here. First year we tried we planted four and got sixteen large butternut. Fortunately they keep very well for a long time. Carrots and onions have never worked that well. Tomatoes, chillies, peppers, sweet potatoes, normal potatoes, peas and any herbs grow like buggery here. Mixed results with brassica but when they don’t get eaten they grow very well.
This may nor be ecological but for slugs I’m suspecting a border of sawdusr with petrol on it might deter them. Also wondering about salt.
More ecologically, if you’re quick Lidl.fr has Filet de Cuivre right now - Copper Mesh - for 3,99 quite long 12,7cm x L 3.2metera right now. It will disappear very quickly I think, they are marking it reduced from 5,99. Also Ruban de Cuivre Copper Tape 3,99 5cm x 10metres which also seems a decent price.
AHHH§ Petrol & salt??? Good God!
I’ve never tried using copper tape or mech, but have used copper piping to hold up tomato plants & found snails on the piping.
Here’s an ecological method egg boxes kept watered in dry weather or a plank against a wall
I presume they congregate behind the plank ? Our post box always has snails in it I presume for a similar reason. Our problem is almost exclusively snails rather than slugs. We hardly ever see slugs.
Yes, that’s what they do. I then collect them & throw them next door. I have read they have a homing instinct, which doesn’t surprise me.
Even worse - slug pellets. Our wonderful Airedale nearly died at 2 years old because one of our neighbouring farmers covered his field in slug pellets and she found some and ate them.
Our neighbour knew perfectly well that the plague of snails came from “over the wall”… I used to do a snail patrol every evening…
Slug pellets have changed now - you can’t get the pet lethal ones anymore. The new formula (ferrous sulphate) pellets dont kill anything, not even slugs!
I’ve been told that chickens love snails. Next door has five, so if I chuck them over the hedge between us then I’ll be feeding the chickens
Chickens, ducks and pigs… they’ve all benefitted from the rather large number of snails our small garden seemed to attract. Since we reorganised things, there are fewer snails and, they go flying…
I’m so glad that there are others out there like me who don’t and perhaps have never resorted to using chemicals, pesticides and all manner of nasties (including salt and beer).
Having snails and slugs is a sign of a healthy garden, and if lucky, you will have loads of animals coming to chomp them up.
It is a pity I agree when stuff gets munched but I have found that if one simply over produces, there is more than enough to go around.
Last year, I planted a bunch of hybrid aubergines and I swear one minute the tips were fine, turned my back and something came and feasted on the tips. No worries and they all grew back fine.
Happy Gardening all and I wish it would stop blowing a gale…
by keeping our patch chemical free and fairly weedy… we get glow-worms (amongst other interesting stuff)
one year we had 10 hedgehogs must to the delight of our grandson who was visiting…
Wow!! …fantastique!
It’s so dark here in the sticks that I can’t be bothered going out in the dark but I do see quite a bit of hedgehog poo scattered around…
Miam miam!!
best time to observe the stars… and anything else which glows
the hedgehogs come to drink and potter during the afternoon in summer.
I love this idea!!! I bought some of that copper stuff last year too.
Slowly getting there. With recent days of heat everything doing really well.
The 12/04
Yesterday
And 1 sweet potato has grown slips
Pouring today so I’m going to do some planning and I need some seeds. After managing to have cut flowers through until frost last year I’m aiming to set up a planned and dedicated cutting bed this year.
Lace nets on your garden? How very posh!
Of course ! They are fabulous, they let in rain, keep off birds and are light. They don’t break down after 10 minutes like those awful row covers, they are washable and pretty to boot. What’s not to love!?
If you look closely you’ll also spot my favourite pyjama pants legs and a strip of old duvet cover
Wow de chez wow