[BML]

Cabbage seedlings being nibbled.

I planted some spring cabbage on the 11th September and pricked most of them out into single pots to grow a little before I planted them in the garden and they are about two inches high.
The spare seedlings I planted out in the garden with a net to protect them against Pidgins and with slug pellets to protect them against Slugs.  Most of these seedlings have disappeared and those that are left are well nibbled.  A gardening acquaintance told me that the damage has been done by small slugs that live underground nipping out during the dark hours to wreak their damage and the only way to stop them is to nip out into the garden when its dark and pick them off.
Surely there must be another way to solve this problem. 

[mumofstig]

That's one way of dealing with them!
I suppose that the original slug pellets are no longer working because of the rain you need to keep adding more for them to stay effective - but I think some losses are inevitable at this time of year 

It's just annoying when they take'em all 

[sunshineband]

Like MoS says, you need to add more slug pellets regularly in this direly soaking wet weather if they are to be effective

Until this season I rarely used those blue pellets of death -- and now I could own shares in them I reckon  :blink:

[Auntiemogs]

Ditto Sunshine.  I've used two cartons this year and I only have a small garden. 

They must be working though as they keep dissappearing and the good thing is that there are no bodies to clear up! 

[BML]

Many thanks.  I would have replied sooner but I thought the forum had an automatic trigger for replies.  Anyway, there all gone now, the seedlings I mean but I maj just have another go in the hope its not to late for them to grow.

[Salmo]

Spring cabbage varieties really need to be sown in early August to be big enough to survive and thrive.

You would be better to wait until the Spring and sow something like hispi or primo cabbage. If these are sown in February they will be ready to plant out in early April and will soon heart up.

[BML]

Thick as I am Iv'e worked out the automatic reply thing.  I should have said that the slug pellets were over a year old and I wonder if they lose their strength.  When you say, "You would be better to wait until the Spring and sow something like hispi or primo cabbage. If these are sown in February they will be ready to plant out in early April and will soon heart up." Do you mean starting them off in trays or directly in the soil?  What is the earliest spring cabbage?

[dankay123]

my spring cabbages are rather big now. i have had them in a op up tunnel plenty of slug pellets in there too. also my lettuces have remained untouched by slugs but im digging the whole plot so there is nowhere for slugs to hide. i planted mine late august and then transplanted them once big enough to where they are now. the middle of the cabbages are starting to twist now so hopefully should have some nice ones come spring.

[BML]

I only started gardening about two years ago never having touched it before and I can see that I have a lot to learn so tomorrow I'm off up the road to the only gardener I know really well.
"Spring cabbages are rather big", and "the lettuce" and all this as far North as Manchester!