[Spr0ut]

Three weeks ago I planted some brassicas and marigolds and surrounded each plant with about 1/4 depth of wate coffee grounds because I had heard that they are very nutritious for the plant and slugs don't like coffee grounds so a double plus.

- since then we have had two good heavy downpours and despite there still being a good amount of coffee grounds left on the surface around each plant, the slugs have breached the grounds and munched the plants heavily.

I wanted to see if the coffee grounds thing was worthwhile, but it seems it only works in drier conditions - when slugs are not around anyway.

Or maybe my slugs are fussy and it needs to be a certain brand of coffee they do or do not like.

[JayG]

I believe that coffee grounds come into the category of 'the barrier method' for deterring slugs and as such are usually a bit too fine for that. Like most 'barriers' slugs find them far less of an obstacle when wet.

They are a decent source of nutrients to add to your compost bin though - a kind of 'brown' ingredient with added nitrogen (amongst other elements.)

[Spr0ut]

Yes - I believe the test that were carried out were with Expresso grounds so a whole lot stronger in caffeine to filter grounds. They also sprayed leaves with an Expresso strength solution and this meant the slugs wouldn't eat the leaves.

On the other hand, I have found that a generous sprinkling of calcified seaweed is a good barrier, which stays a lot longer through rain until the plant is big enough to cope with an occasional slug attack.

[Spr0ut]

Its official (according to me anyway) - walked my dog down to the allotment this morning to find my 30-odd sweetcorn plants eaten down to about 6 left across the bed. Coffee grounds are absolutely useless as a slug deterrent or barrier.

The EU have nothing to fear about the illegality of using coffee grounds as an unregistered slug poison - they don't work!

Luckily I have another tray waiting in the wings. I should never have experimented with such a high-end crop.  You'd have seen a grown man cry, I was so devastated - well the sweetcorn was anyway.

[dugless]

Slugs are very rampant this year they even got by slug pellets and devastated my runner beans.

I have had my chimney swept so have some soot I am going to try that I don't care what the EU thinks.