[little_kev]

hi, this is my first question here, so please forgive any apparent ignorance...

my radishes appear to have been nibbled on.
i did a bit of web research, thinking it was ants (they were on the radishes at the wounds when i lifted them), to read they come after, possibly drawn by the sap. which i find plausible. but this version goes on to suggest sizable pests (moles etc) are to blame. but the damage is beneath the soil, and no apparent earth disturbance is evident.

a local oldie suggested when pushed that ants will eat radish; when it is very wet (which it has been).
but this could just as well be the same line of thought i had, without a web search to cast doubt...

the wounds are considerably bigger than ants mouths are, but they could have been eating out as a group.

any suggestions pls?!

[surbie100]

slugs.

[Beetroot queen]

I always blame Billy bakers. They seem to be all over my radish every time.

Billy bakers aka leather jackets. Errrm not sure what they are actually called for real. 

[little_kev]

thanks for the prompt replies.

don't think it's slugs or snails, as no trails or shells ever, and never seen one within 100 meters.
as for the leather jackets, i shall have to look out for, and into, this.

thanks again

K

** to add, the radishes were virtually surrounded by young(ish) lettuce, and these are untouched .**

[JayG]

Looks like typical slug damage to me - the one on the left shows the classic "skid-mark" where the slug has crawled along chomping away as it does so (they have about 27,000 teeth apparently, so are very good at this, although their dentist bills are horrendous!) 

[Beetroot queen]

Looks like typical slug damage to me - the one on the left shows the classic "skid-mark" where the slug has crawled along chomping away as it does so (they have about 27,000 teeth apparently, so are very good at this, although their dentist bills are horrendous!) 

How many, imagine having that lot filled. Lol   :blink: dentist would be able to retire on that fortune

[tribs]

I always blame Billy bakers. They seem to be all over my radish every time.

Billy bakers aka leather jackets. Errrm not sure what they are actually called for real. 

BQ, do you mean woodlice?

My guess is slugs too, but it's hard to tell as you have got the ground behind the radishes in focus in that photo

[pdblake]

Looks like slugs to me too. They don't always leave a trail, not unless they've just nibbled on a blue pellet anyway.

[Beetroot queen]

I always blame Billy bakers. They seem to be all over my radish every time.

Billy bakers aka leather jackets. Errrm not sure what they are actually called for real. 

BQ, do you mean woodlice?

My guess is slugs too, but it's hard to tell as you have got the ground behind the radishes in focus in that photo

Yep that's them lol I couldn't think of their real name. My radish are always surrounded by the blighters.

Just read up facts on slugs and it says vinegar can be used as a spray, anyone know anymore details on that ad it didn't say anymore

[8doubles]

I recon slugs as well a list of usual suspects here,

http://www.slugoff.co.uk/slug-facts/bad-slugs

Keel slug is tops in the 'no see um' category.

Never tried the product so i am not endorsing it !

[snowdrops]

Deffo slugs,but don't know why they didn't choose the lettuce,what sort of lettuce? Slugs don't like red lettuce in my experience.

[little_kev]

just to say ta for all the input.

learned something new today... slugs dwell underground as well as over.
that is a good thing (the learning bit) i admit, even if the news not so much so.

btw the lettuce is vaguely 40% red, 20% brown, 40% green.

[J_B]

have had the same issue growing radishes @ the lottie so finally gave up and grew them successfully at home in an old wooden wine box