In article ,
"Mary Fisher" wrote:

"mw80" wrote in message
...

Hi

Just a quick one. I am new to gardening and i have taken over an
allotment. I am attempting to grow much of what is intended to go into
the ground from seed. Most things have been pretty successful so far
but i have had problems with my cabbages.

I planted Greyhound and a type of red cabbage (Drumhead?). Nearly all
the seeds germinated and when i thought they were ready to transplant
to biiger pots i did so and moved into my cold frame

It looks like i have lost all of them! We have had no frsot
(UK-Midlands) and everything else is fine. I used Westland West +
Advanced compost with a little bit of lime in (i was advised to do
that)

Anything i have done wrong or have i just been unlucky? It seems
strange that i have lost them all (there are 1 or 2 still alive that i
didn't have time to transplant)

It could well be slugs :-(

My brassica seedlings are still in pots in the greenhouse, even the kale. I
haven't planted out my Grehound and January King (red) seedlings yet, I'll
leave it until they're about four or five inches tall then bury them up to
their lowest leaves - but using a solid copper collar round them. That will
stay on all their lives, it really does seem to deter the slugs. The copper
mesh and other devices aren't as effective in my experience.

We've had true April weather here in Leeds, Yorkshire, and I don't want to
risk feeding the slugs any more than I can help.
You may want to
USE IRON PHOSPHATE BAIT
Choose a bait product carefully.
Baits containing methiocarb kill
earthworms and beneficial insects.
Baits containing iron phosphate
(such as Sluggo¨, Escar-Go¨, or
Worry Free¨) are safer for children
and pets than baits containing
metaldehyde. Nevertheless, always
keep this and all other pesticides out
of the reach of children and pets.
After eating iron phosphate, snails
and slugs stop feeding and die within
3 to 6 days. They often crawl into
secluded places, so you may not see
dead bodies.
Reapply iron phosphate baits every 2 weeks.

I use Sluggo and i t works very well. It says on the container
that it is safe with pets and children
and can be used up to the day of harvesting.

paste
counties.cce.cornell.edu/suffolk/HortFactSheets/factsheets/Slugs%20and%20
Snails.pdf into your URL. Yes I know it doesn't have a http:\\, just
paste it in and hit return.
On lime - I scatter lime on the ground where my brassicae are to live a few
weeks before they go in. Well, that's the intention. I've forgotten this
year :-) It won't harm to use slaked lime even after planting.
The slack lime is for what? Slugs and snails?

You're not going to have 100% success with anything, even when you've been
doing it for a lifetime. My old beekeeping mentor used to remind me that you
don't get a chicken from every egg.

On the other hand - want any tomatoes?

G

Mary
--

Billy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=7WBB0s...eature=related