[harry]

I went to home base to buy slug clear and the lable says don't use it on produce for eating, does anyone know why.

[arugula]

It contains metaldehyde, a chemical which is toxic if ingested in large enough doses. Granted these doses would likely have to be huge, but they have to cover themselves.

[mumofstig]

Aren't you supposed to use it on the soil...rather than on the plant    


Just a thought..................

[harry]

Aren't you supposed to use it on the soil...rather than on the plant    


Just a thought..................

Your'e quite right you water it into the soil, but has anyone used it on there plot. I've noticed most slug pellets contain the same substance

[mumofstig]

Everybody (well nearly ) uses slug pellets........it seems to be the only way to get any lettuce (or anything else come to think of it )

and a quick Google shows slug clear stocked by several allotment societies, so must be ok for veg.  here's one http://www.mdas.org.uk/site/?q=node/164

[DavidT]

I treat the soil with liquid slug killer just before planting.

[harry]

Thanks for the help, you can buy it at homebase for £4.99

[ex-cavator]

As an keen conservationist, I'm horrified that you lot are still chucking metaldehyde slug pellets around as if they were going out of fashion. It wouldn't be so bad if song thrushes, hedgehogs, frogs, and toads were not also killed, as they feed on the infected slugs. And even dogs have an affinity for the little blue pellets, and have been shown to suffer terrible deaths as a result. These things should be banned. Our wildlife has a tough enough time in today's countryside as it is, without you lot adding to the toll. You grow your own veggies so that you know where it comes from and that it is good & wholesome. But your poison your slugs so that the poor unsuspecting birds and animals with which you share your plot suffer a prolonged and quite possibly painful death. I urge you - please think again before buying this killer substance 

Rant over ....

[harry]

Well i am a newcomer to veg growing so how do you keep the slugs off your veggies without killing them

[mumofstig]

Each to their own ex-cavator

If you are worried about the wildlife eating pellets or killed slugs there is an easy answer (apart from stopping using them ) and that is to net the areas they are used on. Simples

[harry]

I thought if you used slug clear or something similar that you watered in, the slugs died underground.  

[penance]

As an keen conservationist, I'm horrified that you lot are still chucking metaldehyde slug pellets around as if they were going out of fashion. It wouldn't be so bad if song thrushes, hedgehogs, frogs, and toads were not also killed, as they feed on the infected slugs. And even dogs have an affinity for the little blue pellets, and have been shown to suffer terrible deaths as a result. These things should be banned. Our wildlife has a tough enough time in today's countryside as it is, without you lot adding to the toll. You grow your own veggies so that you know where it comes from and that it is good & wholesome. But your poison your slugs so that the poor unsuspecting birds and animals with which you share your plot suffer a prolonged and quite possibly painful death. I urge you - please think again before buying this killer substance 

Rant over ....

Good rant, but mostly unfounded.
There has been no direct correlation between the use of Metaldehyde and poisoning of non targert animals.

[mr Isaccs]

There is always the beer trap method, never used it myself so don't know if it works

[mr Isaccs]

Also, don't want to start bitching but dont you think "you lot" is a bit of an aggressive way to address other members ex-cavator

[DD.]

Keep it friendly please.

This is always an emotive subject when it crops up.

The mods are keeping a careful eye on this thread.