permaculture

["J. Hobbs" <hobbsj@efn.org>]

Title: Re: Notes from the slug pub........

> SLUGS-- being one of the infamous
> challenges of the Northwest-- is a constant topic among friends and
> students.  Here are a few ideas that work for me.

* Hand pick in early morning or after dark- (I've been known  to go out with designated scissors  or drop them in a bucket of soapy water).

*  Beer traps,

* or, Instead of Beer- 1T.molasses, 3T. cornmeal, 1/2c.flour, 1/2c. water, 1/2 T.yeast

* In spray bottle- 3 parts water and 1 part Ammonia- spray as needed

* Oyster shells with wood ash or lime,

* Dry horse  bran- purchased at feed stores-$15 for 50#- slugs love the bran- fill up on this sweet yeasty substance then end up being desiccated-- bloated critters everywhere! this is one of the easiest solutions- just be sure to put  2" (deep and wide) line around all plants you want protected.

* Boards placed between rows,  check in heat of  day

* Garter snakes, Indian Runner ducks, chickens ( train them early on little slugs- if young chickens eat slugs that are too big they can suffocate- Also, salamanders and rove beetles.

* Planting bigger plants

I never found copper wire to be effective long term- need to clean it  every year with rubbing alcohol to recharge-(copper oxidizes.)

Good luck...and remember you are in good company,

Jude

> So far this year (touch wood) my cabbages
> have not been seriously touched by
> our pals the slugs, probably I guess due
> to the hot dry weather we've been
> experiencing since the spring- however following some rain last
> weekend I
> noticed that some damage has started, and the other evening I went
> down to
> my allotment and caught about 7 slugs targetting one particular
> cabbage,
> which I removed (the slugs, not the cabbage). Yesterday I went down to
> the
> plot and surrounded the cabbages with sand barriers and also set up a
> couple
> of slug pubs using a couple of old soya milk cartons with holes cut in
> the
> side.
>
> I filled them with quality 2% 'Acme' (or somesuch) bitter bought for
> 40p a
> can from the shop on the corner (whilst poor me had to make do with a
> bottle
> of Organic Ale when I went for a sit in the deckchair!), within about
> 20
> minutes of setting them up 5 slugs had meandered over, 3 of which
> dutifully
> slithered straight inside (the others were hesitating so were given a
> small
> hand with a twig!), so everything seemed successful-
>
> However, a couple of thoughts/observations;
>
> 1) I noticed one slug went into the trap, then come straight out
> again! (he
> went back in with a little help from me- anyone who knows me will tell
> you
> I'm lethal for getting in 'one more round'!!!)
>
> 2) It occured to me that these traps seem to be so successful at
> attracting
> slugs, is it not possible that they might in fact attract slugs to
> growing
> areas that might otherwise never visit???
>
> 3) Even at 40p a can, it's still quites an expensive way of providing
> a slug
> deterent, esp. when weighed against the economics of buying a cabbage,
> even
> an organic one, from the shops, esp. as I
> found it took nearly 2 cans to
> fill each trap- do you think I would get
> away with watering the beer down
> when I put in the traps, would it still
> be as effective???
>
> Anyone else got thoughts or experiences
> on the effectiveness of slug pubs?
>
> Cheers for now,
>
> Graham Burnett
> 35 Rayleigh Avenue
> Westcliff On Sea
> Essex
> SS0 7DS
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