[viettaclark]

I planted several rows of Primo and Early Nantes back in February and they have been under cloche. I noticed the seedlings were up but very slow to develop first leaves and thought it might be lack of water as they've been covered.
Gave them a drink with the hose a few days ago then went to take off the cloches today (now the weather's gorgeous) and they'd GORN!!!
There were 3 or 4 tiny seedlings with no real leaves yet left. The earth was BARE!!!
Had a rootle ....found one or two teeny baby slugs but the lettuce in the same bed is untouched. No ants or nasty crawly things or buzzy things or hoppy things. Lots and lots of worms.
Could watering have done something?
Bit worried because I've resown now.

[Paul Plots]

Quite possibly the little slugs prefer your delicious carrots to the lettuce they are expecting to eat later. 

[viettaclark]

So what's the cure, Doc?
I don't mind using organic pellets but aren't they a bit of a mouthful for teeny tiny sluggies?

[Paul Plots]

So what's the cure, Doc?
I don't mind using organic pellets but aren't they a bit of a mouthful for teeny tiny sluggies?

Have you ever looked very closely at one of those little slugs? Their mouths are full of the most horrid teeth and they can gnaw / graze their way through anything.

Give them a treat.... a sprinkling of slug bait as after all its either them or your carrots!  :blink:

I was surprised the first time I had carrots "disappear" after having grown them for a few years without problems. One day they were looking lovely (although very tiny) - the next someone or something had swiped the lot.   Slugs was my bet!!

The slugs quite liked the warm damp conditions in there with the carrots. 

[viettaclark]

Thanks Learner.
Job for tomorrow.....
Better wear leather gloves..don't fancy being bitten.....

[Paul Plots]

Thanks Learner.
Job for tomorrow.....
Better wear leather gloves..don't fancy being bitten.....

Slugs have cousins = snails (slugs with mobile homes).... as of course everyone knows:

A class of mine opted to keep snails to study (it was 38 years ago when children were easily pleased!). I was a student teacher so borrowed loads of books all about snails to encourage the 10 year olds to read and research.

Weeks later I had to explain to the head librarian at college all about snails and their wide diets and many, many rows of teeth. Four of the books had been eaten... not by the children I hasten to add! 

They certainly have teeth!! 

[viettaclark]

Do I infer you are a retired school marm?
Snap!!

[Paul Plots]

Do I infer you are a retired school marm?
Snap!!

Double snap.....almost

Right job - wrong gender 


(Retirement is so less stressful)

[ferreter51]

Do I infer you are a retired school marm?
Snap!!

Double snap.....almost

Right job - wrong gender 


(Retirement is so less stressful)

Having a retired schoolteacher for a wife I echo the  comment about stress - especially my own!!

[8doubles]

Thanks Learner.
Job for tomorrow.....
Better wear leather gloves..don't fancy being bitten.....

I swear you can hear the big slugs eating , http://www.psmicrographs.co.uk/radula-of-a-garden-slug--arion-ater-/science-image/00964   

[Paul Plots]

Thanks Learner.
Job for tomorrow.....
Better wear leather gloves..don't fancy being bitten.....

I swear you can hear the big slugs eating , http://www.psmicrographs.co.uk/radula-of-a-garden-slug--arion-ater-/science-image/00964   

Nice photo. Imagine the dentist bill if that lot needed fillings! 

[Paul Plots]

Do I infer you are a retired school marm?
Snap!!

Double snap.....almost

Right job - wrong gender 


(Retirement is so less stressful)

Having a retired schoolteacher for a wife I echo the  comment about stress - especially my own!!

Double that and add a bit - we both taught!!!  :blink:

[viettaclark]

Well....if you don't put your gender on your profile....
Anyway, mini slug pellets are dutifully and not too liberally scattered over all my raised beds.
The slug/snail population in the garden has been decimated by the wonderful chickens but the raised beds are wired off and I still get a few.
Hopefully my carrots will be ok.
Yes....I took early retirement because of arthritic knees but that was an excuse really. I certainly find life is wonderfully stress-free just gardening all the time. B****r the housework and the kids can eat soil....
Except when teeth-gnashing gastropods blithely chomp my carrot crop that is....

[Paul Plots]

Well....if you don't put your gender on your profile....
Anyway, mini slug pellets are dutifully and not too liberally scattered over all my raised beds.
The slug/snail population in the garden has been decimated by the wonderful chickens but the raised beds are wired off and I still get a few.
Hopefully my carrots will be ok.
Yes....I took early retirement because of arthritic knees but that was an excuse really. I certainly find life is wonderfully stress-free just gardening all the time. B****r the housework and the kids can eat soil....
Except when teeth-gnashing gastropods blithely chomp my carrot crop that is....

Pleased to hear you are enjoying retirement....... I'm busier than ever (full-time carer and no holidays or week-ends off)....but less stressed.

Best of luck with the carrots.