[Vagabond]

I've just been checking my seedlings under my cold frame and I've lost three fennel seedlings, which were individually potted, to slugs. (Seedling has vanished and there is a tell tale slimy residue in its place.)

I'll buy some slug pellets tomorrow - but meantime, is there a quick fix I can use tonight to halt the invasion?

Thanks

[RJR_38]

Beer traps work ok or if very desperate for one night put some paper on the soil so it doesn't ruin your soil and sprinkle salt. If your cold frame is on a patio or something you can put the salt straight on it and sweep it up afterwards

[8doubles]

A midnight search with torch and garden scissors will get the culprit .

[shedmeister]

SQUIDGE

[Vagabond]

Ha ha - well, I would squidge the culprit if I could find him. I've just been up the garden with some salt which I've sprinkled around the perimeter (the whole frame stands on sand). I don't have enough zeal to go up there at midnight to search for slugs by torchlight!   
Thanks for the suggestions.

[Salmo]

In a cold frame it could be snails.

[Vagabond]

In a cold frame it could be snails.

My frame is a very small, Heath Robinson, affair - I think I'd spot snails if they were lurking in it - but I'll bear it in mind and have a good look tomorrow.

[al78]

Put a container like a large roasting tray on the ground. Put a brick or two in the tray and put your tray of seedlings on top of the bricks. Then sprinkle salt in the tray.

[Salmo]

In a cold frame it could be snails.

My frame is a very small, Heath Robinson, affair - I think I'd spot snails if they were lurking in it - but I'll bear it in mind and have a good look tomorrow.

They may be very small snails and they can hide.

[madcat]

Find a big fat toad and make him a nice home in your coldframe ....  Win win all round.

[8doubles]

Find a big fat toad and make him a nice home in your coldframe ....  Win win all round.

In a tiny cold frame the toad would not be big and fat for long , a small skinny toad would be better !

[J_B]

cheap value beer 4 cans for a quid, a couple of plastic bowls from poundland and u have a beer trap...guarenteed to sort them out...only problem is trying to hide the sheepish face when u  check out 3 quids worth of the cheapest beer and u grin and mumble to the checkout lady thats it to kill slugs...like she believes u...

[Vagabond]

Ha ha - well, I don't think there's such a thing as cheap beer in the Republic of Ireland (or poundland for that matter) JB - but I'll bear it in mind for emergencies!
I've since bought organic, 'safe' slug pellets and they seem to be doing the trick.
 

[AnnieB]

Dissolve the salt in warm water, and paint it on to the sides of the cold frame, also on the top edges/faces of it. In effect a couple of bands of salt.

I lost a pepper to a snail, the snail went flying without a parachute, but I did the previous to protect the remaining items and so far all is OK.