[Stevie P]

After last seasons slug damage I am seeking a way to prevent slug damage this season on my light soil on the allotment.  I have read about nematode worms that kill slugs by eating them as part of their lifecycle - has anyone any experience of using this biological control on an allotment and more specifically for potatoes.  My crop not only got a touch of potato blight but also extensive damage from slugs - black keels ones as well as many other colours.

I am also keen to see if the worms can 'bred' to have a supply all season through

The alternative  control I have been told is to add slug pellets when eathing up - I have not done this in the past but if the nematode system is not effective I will try this

[surbie100]

Last year was my first season and I used nematodes on my potato bed only to cut down on the costs. (there are threads on here discussing nematode results and on how to make your own, which you can find with the search facility).

I had 2 potatoes with slug damage in my whole crop, and I grew Swift, Charlotte and Maris Piper. The slugs were only in the maincrop. I will be using them again this year, but again, only in beds with root crops.

[Aunt Sally]

How many potatoes do you grow, surbie ? 

I plant about 120 seed potatoes and was wondering how expensive that would be for nematodes.

[surbie100]

How many potatoes do you grow, surbie ? 

I plant about 120 seed potatoes and was wondering how expensive that would be for nematodes.

Nowhere near as many as you Aunt Sally!  If I had that many I wouldn't nematode. I had 16 seed potatoes last year, this year I'm going for a grand total of 45, on the balcony and in one of my beds. I'll never have the space for more than that - I've heard the wait list for a half plot on my site is nearly 7 years now.

[Aunt Sally]

Ah, yes...  I thought it wouldn't be economically viable for me 

[shoozie]

I've never tried nematodes but found this while reading up on them ....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningequipment/8675592/The-war-on-slugs-starts-at-home.html