slaters

[brucef@eudoramail.com]

Last weekend I planted about 5 punnets of seedlings. Of these I have
four surviving basil plants and a tomato. The coriander went first.
The lettuce was looking good for about 4 or 5 days, then overnight
I lost everything except a couple of stalks. The parsley is dead too,
but that could be the heat.

Can't be sure, but I suspect slaters. There are thousands of the
things, but they don't seem to do any harm to established plants,
only seedlings.

Anyone have any tips for controlling slaters? I was thinking of
protecting the seedlings with plastic domes cut from drink
bottles until they are strong enough to look after themselves.

The slaters seem to do a good job of breaking things down,
I just don't want them to break down my seedlings.

[Jonno[_6_]]

wrote:
> Last weekend I planted about 5 punnets of seedlings. Of these I have
> four surviving basil plants and a tomato. The coriander went first.
> The lettuce was looking good for about 4 or 5 days, then overnight
> I lost everything except a couple of stalks. The parsley is dead too,
> but that could be the heat.
>
> Can't be sure, but I suspect slaters. There are thousands of the
> things, but they don't seem to do any harm to established plants,
> only seedlings.
>
> Anyone have any tips for controlling slaters? I was thinking of
> protecting the seedlings with plastic domes cut from drink
> bottles until they are strong enough to look after themselves.
>
> The slaters seem to do a good job of breaking things down,
> I just don't want them to break down my seedlings.
>
Standards snail pellets (from memory) take care of them.

[RooBoy[_2_]]

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Last weekend I planted about 5 punnets of seedlings. Of these I have
> four surviving basil plants and a tomato. The coriander went first.
> The lettuce was looking good for about 4 or 5 days, then overnight
> I lost everything except a couple of stalks. The parsley is dead too,
> but that could be the heat.
>
> Can't be sure, but I suspect slaters. There are thousands of the
> things, but they don't seem to do any harm to established plants,
> only seedlings.
>
> Anyone have any tips for controlling slaters? I was thinking of
> protecting the seedlings with plastic domes cut from drink
> bottles until they are strong enough to look after themselves.
>
> The slaters seem to do a good job of breaking things down,
> I just don't want them to break down my seedlings.
>

Sawdust around the plants will stop them and snails they hate it.

[0tterbot]

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Last weekend I planted about 5 punnets of seedlings. Of these I have
> four surviving basil plants and a tomato. The coriander went first.
> The lettuce was looking good for about 4 or 5 days, then overnight
> I lost everything except a couple of stalks. The parsley is dead too,
> but that could be the heat.
>
> Can't be sure, but I suspect slaters. There are thousands of the
> things, but they don't seem to do any harm to established plants,
> only seedlings.
>
> Anyone have any tips for controlling slaters? I was thinking of
> protecting the seedlings with plastic domes cut from drink
> bottles until they are strong enough to look after themselves.
>
> The slaters seem to do a good job of breaking things down,
> I just don't want them to break down my seedlings.

i really wouldn't suspect slaters - i'd suspect cutworms. is that a
possibility?
kylie

[brucef@eudoramail.com]

On Mar 9, 6:34 pm, "0tterbot" > wrote:
> i really wouldn't suspect slaters - i'd suspect cutworms. is that a
> possibility?

I will go and have a dig around, but I haven't seen anything like
this. The only crawlies I have seen in any quantity are earthworms
and slaters.

The plants disappear entirely, it is not like they wilt and die
off slowly. Maybe I should let the ducks go through it, there
isn't much left that they would harm.

[Jonno[_6_]]

wrote:
> On Mar 9, 6:34 pm, "0tterbot" > wrote:
>> i really wouldn't suspect slaters - i'd suspect cutworms. is that a
>> possibility?
>
> I will go and have a dig around, but I haven't seen anything like
> this. The only crawlies I have seen in any quantity are earthworms
> and slaters.
>
> The plants disappear entirely, it is not like they wilt and die
> off slowly. Maybe I should let the ducks go through it, there
> isn't much left that they would harm.
>
And the chooks. Great idea, then after winter the place will be ACE.

[brucef@eudoramail.com]

On Mar 12, 9:35 am, Jonno > wrote:
> wrote:
> > Maybe I should let the ducks go through it, there
> > isn't much left that they would harm.
>
> And the chooks. Great idea, then after winter the place will be ACE.

Letting chooks into your garden is like using a
shotgun on the cockroaches. The ducks are much
gentler - they don't scratch, just dig their
beaks through the soil. They will still eat or
trample seedlings and salad-type veges.

[Jonno[_6_]]

wrote:
> On Mar 12, 9:35 am, Jonno > wrote:
>> wrote:
>>> Maybe I should let the ducks go through it, there
>>> isn't much left that they would harm.
>> And the chooks. Great idea, then after winter the place will be ACE.
>
> Letting chooks into your garden is like using a
> shotgun on the cockroaches. The ducks are much
> gentler - they don't scratch, just dig their
> beaks through the soil. They will still eat or
> trample seedlings and salad-type veges.
>
Yep but if youre not growing anything over winter, its a great way to
get your weeding done for you plus your insects etc.

[Terryc]

wrote:

> Letting chooks into your garden is like using a
> shotgun on the cockroaches. The ducks are much
> gentler - they don't scratch, just dig their
> beaks through the soil. They will still eat or
> trample seedlings and salad-type veges.

Can you recommend a breed of ducks with "attitude".
Too many local cats roam at night.


>

[brucef@eudoramail.com]

On Mar 18, 9:17 pm, Terryc > wrote:
> Can you recommend a breed of ducks with "attitude".
> Too many local cats roam at night.

It would be a very brave cat that would take on an
adult duck. Our appleyards are a bantam breed, but
they can still give me a buffetting with their wings
when I catch them. Ducklings are another matter, you
need to protect them. Crows are worse than cats.

If you really want to bring out the big guns get
Muscovies. Seriously beefy ducks. Avoid Indian
Runners - they are lighter and of a more nervous
disposition.

There is no real need to lock your ducks up at
night unless you suffer from foxes.