SugarChile wrote:


"nutNhoney" wrote in message
I
found an idea for cascading strawberries using three pots in a magazine.
The author indicated that slugs would not be a problem. I
transplanted my strawberries into one raised bed and half barrow. I'm
wondering if slugs will be a problem in the raised beds?

My slugs must not have read that particular magazine--they are always a
problem 8-0.

Seriously, you may have slugs, you may have earwigs, you may have any
number
of other plagues. Just keep your eyes open, and identify any pests you
get
so you can find out how best to deal with them. I find that striving
towards a balanced mini-eco system, encouraging birds and predatory
insects,
goes a long way towards eliminating problems. But since I keep a
permanent
mulch on my vegetable beds, I do get slugs. Since I have discovered
"Sluggo", http://www.pestproducts.com/sluggo.htm, (no affiliation) I can
keep the damage under control.

Your projects sound great, have fun,
Sue

You can also use decollete snails (depending on where you live) or a liberal
application of uncooked coffee grounds when you begin to notice appreciable
amounts of damage.

Right about now someone always pops up to solemnly announce that coffee
grounds do not contain enough caffeine to do the trick.

Baloney. Try it. This method has worked for me for at least three years (and
there are usenet postings to prove it). At worst you'll be out a few
dollars but your garden will smell great for a few days. At best, your slug
problem will be gone for the season (the little buggers travel) and your
garden will smell great for a few days too!

Slugs and snails eat decaying vegetable matter ... and that is a good thing.
For one thing, their presence indicates that there is decaying vegetative
material to be had. And that is a good thing, too. However, they also eat
healthy vegetable matter such as strawberries and sweet pepper plants and
that is a bad thing.

Bill