[Anton]

Hullo there gardeners. My beetroots were slow coming up but I managed to find some amongst the weeds, cleared out the weeds and then watched as they started to pick up speed. I did put a fine coating of slug pellets but a couple of days ago I noticed the slugs had been saving the leaves. I put a thicker coat of pellets but it does not seem to deter them at all. Help! Any ideas please?

Anton

[Potty Plotty Lotty]

I presume you mean slugs have been eating the leaves! 

Have you had lots of rain which has washed away the slug pellets? I tend to scatter the slug pellets thinly over a much wider area than the just the crop and also reapply regularly after rain.

No other ideas really I'm afraid since I generally find slug pellets are fairly effective (even the organic ones) I'm using this year). I hope they survive.

[Potty Plotty Lotty]

I hope they survive.

The beetroot I mean!

[Beetroot queen]

I do a thin layer over the entire bed which is 8 foot by 3

Touch my beetroot and he gets scissored they know better 

[pedro]

watched sparrows eating the young beetroot leaves.
They usually tear at the lettuce, Gone upmarket this year.

[Springlands]

Unfortunately there seems to be so many more slugs and snails this year. As well as using the slug pellets as advised on your packet try to keep your plot or garden as tidy as as possible so that they do not have as many places to hide. You could also do a slug patrol at night when they are most active. Do not just throw them over the fence - they will just crawl back.   

[Anton]

Sorry I didn't  get back sooner to thank you for your tips. I meant to say the slugs are "savaging" my beetroots.  I'll try the tip about sprinkling the slug killer everwhere over the plot.

Anton

[Agatha]

I meant to say the slugs are "savaging" my beetroots.

Anton

Pity.  If you had slugs that were 'saving' beetroot, we'd all want some    I could do with some 'saving' my runner beans too 

[savbo]

I put a thicker coat of pellets but it does not seem to deter them at all...

Anton

For both metaldehyde and ferric pellets, I believe that heavier applications are not better than the recommended amount as the 'bait effect' is reduced and the slugs don't seek out the pellets as much... can't say I fully understand the logic (of either the scientists or the slugs) but that's what I have read

[Kajazy]

I've had voles and rabbits nibble my beetroot leaves, and sometimes I think birds have a go too. You could try netting them and see if that helps at all.