[JayG]

The old-fashioned metaldehyde blue pellets poison slugs and snails directly, hence the visible "evidence", whereas the ferric phosphate so-called organic pellets disrupt their digestion so they crawl away to die so you are unlikely to see them.

Neither is a very cheery prospect for those like me who don't like killing things, but the damage they can cause is impossible to ignore, and this year in particular they are present in such large numbers that all-out war has had to be declared.

I use the organic version scattered at the bottom of the hedges which surround my garden and are overnight hiding places for slugs and snails, and the metaldehyde ones nearer to the most vulnerable crops, which are mostly netted so that the risk to other wildlife is minimised.

Seems to be working, although constant vigilance is required in these current weather conditions.

[mumofstig]

If this is the case

The old-fashioned metaldehyde blue pellets poison slugs and snails directly, hence the visible "evidence", whereas the ferric phosphate so-called organic pellets disrupt their digestion so they crawl away to die so you are unlikely to see them.

then why did the damage only stop after the organic pellets were replaced with the old fashioned ones? 

[JayG]

If this is the case

The old-fashioned metaldehyde blue pellets poison slugs and snails directly, hence the visible "evidence", whereas the ferric phosphate so-called organic pellets disrupt their digestion so they crawl away to die so you are unlikely to see them.

then why did the damage only stop after the organic pellets were replaced with the old fashioned ones? 

Not sure Viettaclark was saying that the organic pellets didn't work, just that there was visible evidence that the metaldehyde ones did work!

It's possible that because of the way the organic pellets work that the slugs still have time to inflict more damage before it starts to take effect - I think they do help keep the overall population down, although without the visible evidence it's impossible to be sure, which is why I've gone for the belt and braces approach. 

[Anton]

I wonder if the slugs (of which there were lots and lots in spite of slug pellets) which have cause the leaves on potato plants to turn brown and dry. I don't think it is blight because the stalks still look healthy, no sign of black or gunge or anything?

Anton

[potatogrower]

found this article from The Sun.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4407044/Invasion-of-the-monster-slugs.html

and Daily Mail article

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2168011/Invasion-slugs-Following-soggy-summer-attack-gardens-despairing-allotment-holder-tests-best-ways-rid-them.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

[hubballi]

I went slug hunting and the plants were HEAVING with HUGE brown slugs that were quickly snipped. I think this method is best.

What a vile way to kill a living creature. I am sorry but as much as I don't like slugs I think this is just barbaric.

[arugula]

found this article from The Sun.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4407044/Invasion-of-the-monster-slugs.html

and Daily Mail article

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2168011/Invasion-slugs-Following-soggy-summer-attack-gardens-despairing-allotment-holder-tests-best-ways-rid-them.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Much the same being discussed here:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=96236.msg1068639#msg1068639

[hubballi]

Again, sprayed with garlic and big orange slugs all over them. There are hardly any plant growth left now. I dug down and found one very small red potato   

If I leave them will they still get bigger ?

[JayG]

The slugs will get bigger but the potatoes won't if they have no foliage! 

I understand your reluctance to kill animals but your deterrent plan is not working in this instance - it's no doubt a difficult one for you but when a pest becomes more than just a minor irritant you have to take effective measures or accept the consequences.

[hubballi]

Everytime I search for this post "hubballi potatoes" it doesn't ever come up.

Anyway, I am puzzled why they are all over these Duke Of York potatoes, even when sprayed with the very effective garlic (even my hosta's are not being touched). I pick off about ten slugs and snails. 5 mins later and as many again. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE !  

It doesn't stop them destroying these particular plants. A guy on Gardener's world was interviewed as to how he kept all his Hostas slug free. he said he spayed the early leaves with garlic and they were never touched. I have grown Duke Of York  before and never had this problem. One thing is for sure, I will never grow them again.

[potatogrower]

if only they ate grass i wouldn't have to bring lawnmower out so often 

i get a lot of magpies but surprised to see the clever birdies don't eat them but go for the bread in the food cage instead  :blink:. if i find any slugs moving about i just pick them up and throw onto the grass and these spanish black ones are not that slimy but so far blue pellets are doing the job

[mumofstig]

Everytime I search for this post "hubballi potatoes" it doesn't ever come up.

In search, click the advanced search button. Then type potato (your thread is potato and not potatoes) and your user name in the name box, and this thread is the first on the list 

[hubballi]

Oops. My mistake. Sorry 

[Willow_Warren]

Well I wasn't doing too bad slug wise until this week.  Looked at my Charlotte potatoes in the bag and... we... they've gone from leafy greenery to sticks!  Think I'll just havest what's in the bag this weekend and see what I get (got a good harvest from the one in the ground I dug up last weekend and they were only planted a week apart), but the bag hasn't had quite so much sun exposure.

So far I've not seem to many slugs around the veg patch or the back garden, they've been mainly in the front garden but I think they are making their way as I saw some on the patio this morning. The chickens will eat the small ones but not the large!

H