I have been having a problem with slugs in my vegetable garden.
Apparently, I didn't do something with the soil last fall and I have
bazillions of baby slugs feasting on my lettuce, cabbage and beans. I
found information on making slug traps by cutting "windows" into the
upper parts of empty 8 oz. containers such as those that hold sour
cream, placing the container in the ground, and partially filling it
with beer. Then I'd place the lid on it to keep out the rain.
Marvelous idea, I thought--until tonight when I came out into my
garden and saw that a skunk had attacked the containers. Now I am
quite familiar with the term "Drunk as a skunk".

Anyway, does anyone have any ideas as to an organic slug killer?
Other than going out there every night with a flashlight and
physically removing them. I was thinking of sprinkling salt on the
"feasting tables" but then realized it would probably burn the plants.

Thank you.

On 19 Jun 2004 19:04:56 -0700, (Beth Pierce)
wrote:

I have been having a problem with slugs in my vegetable garden.
Apparently, I didn't do something with the soil last fall and I have
bazillions of baby slugs feasting on my lettuce, cabbage and beans. I
found information on making slug traps by cutting "windows" into the
upper parts of empty 8 oz. containers such as those that hold sour
cream, placing the container in the ground, and partially filling it
with beer. Then I'd place the lid on it to keep out the rain.
Marvelous idea, I thought--until tonight when I came out into my
garden and saw that a skunk had attacked the containers. Now I am
quite familiar with the term "Drunk as a skunk".

Anyway, does anyone have any ideas as to an organic slug killer?
Other than going out there every night with a flashlight and
physically removing them. I was thinking of sprinkling salt on the
"feasting tables" but then realized it would probably burn the plants.

Thank you.

Iron phosphate. It's good for plants, bad for slugs. I believe the
product "Sluggo" has iron phosphate. Table salt is not good for most
plants.

"Phisherman" wrote in message
...
On 19 Jun 2004 19:04:56 -0700, (Beth Pierce)
wrote:

I have been having a problem with slugs in my vegetable garden.
Apparently, I didn't do something with the soil last fall and I have
bazillions of baby slugs feasting on my lettuce, cabbage and beans. I
found information on making slug traps by cutting "windows" into the
upper parts of empty 8 oz. containers such as those that hold sour
cream, placing the container in the ground, and partially filling it
with beer. Then I'd place the lid on it to keep out the rain.
Marvelous idea, I thought--until tonight when I came out into my
garden and saw that a skunk had attacked the containers. Now I am
quite familiar with the term "Drunk as a skunk".

Anyway, does anyone have any ideas as to an organic slug killer?
Other than going out there every night with a flashlight and
physically removing them. I was thinking of sprinkling salt on the
"feasting tables" but then realized it would probably burn the plants.

Thank you.

Iron phosphate. It's good for plants, bad for slugs. I believe the
product "Sluggo" has iron phosphate. Table salt is not good for most
plants.

In addition, you can pick them off in the evening or early morning. You can
also put out containers of beer or sugar water with yeast to attract them.
If the infestation is bad, you will reduce the population faster by taking
all three approaches.

Phisherman wrote in message news:
Iron phosphate. It's good for plants, bad for slugs. I believe the
product "Sluggo" has iron phosphate.

Thank you very much. I'll look into the iron phosphate.

(Beth Pierce) wrote in message . com...
Phisherman wrote in message news:
Iron phosphate. It's good for plants, bad for slugs. I believe the
product "Sluggo" has iron phosphate.

Thank you very much. I'll look into the iron phosphate.

Also, a solution of 15% amonia and 85% water in a spray bottle kills
them and doesn't hurt the plants.

Ginny

Sluggo is the brand name . . . . it is basically ironite with a snail
attractant . . . good for your garden, bad for the snails (dries them
out when they injest the ironite) A bit more expensive than some
snail baits, however it is safe around pets and kids!

Thanks for the story about the drunk skunk! Priceless.

p2

(Beth Pierce) wrote in message . com...
Now I am
quite familiar with the term "Drunk as a skunk".

Anyway, does anyone have any ideas as to an organic slug killer?

On 6/21/04 6:16 AM, in article
, "Ginny Sher"
wrote:

(Beth Pierce) wrote in message
. com...
Phisherman wrote in message news:
Iron phosphate. It's good for plants, bad for slugs. I believe the
product "Sluggo" has iron phosphate.

Thank you very much. I'll look into the iron phosphate.

Also, a solution of 15% amonia and 85% water in a spray bottle kills
them and doesn't hurt the plants.

Ginny
In spite of the problems slugs cause to our vegetables they actually do a
good service. They turn plants into food for plants. I think they prefer old
dead stuff. They also eat dog and/or coyote poop...
The key is to put them were they will do the most good....take them to the
local bush.
My grand daughter was very excited to find one. The slug was moving ever so
slowly with it's antennae fully extended. It was a sight to behold. Well,
actually two sights 1. My grand daughter's enthusiasm and 2. The slug.
It was an interesting experience. I now take 'my' slugs to 'higher
ground'...the bush.
Gary
Fort Langley, BC
Canada


To reply please remove...yoursocks...

On 6/29/04 10:36 PM, in article , "gary
davis" wrote:

On 6/21/04 6:16 AM, in article
, "Ginny Sher"
wrote:

(Beth Pierce) wrote in message
. com...
Phisherman wrote in message news:
Iron phosphate. It's good for plants, bad for slugs. I believe the
product "Sluggo" has iron phosphate.

Thank you very much. I'll look into the iron phosphate.

Also, a solution of 15% amonia and 85% water in a spray bottle kills
them and doesn't hurt the plants.

Ginny
In spite of the problems slugs cause to our vegetables they actually do a
good service. They turn plants into food for plants. I think they prefer old
dead stuff. They also eat dog and/or coyote poop...
The key is to put them were they will do the most good....take them to the
local bush.
My grand daughter was very excited to find one. The slug was moving ever so
slowly with it's antennae fully extended. It was a sight to behold. Well,
actually two sights 1. My grand daughter's enthusiasm and 2. The slug.
It was an interesting experience. I now take 'my' slugs to 'higher
ground'...the bush.
Gary
Fort Langley, BC
Canada


To reply please remove...yoursocks...

Oh, I forgot to mention this: I have heard that some slugs will eat 'some
slugs'. I think it was the leopard slug that eats the little ones...the ones
that do the damage. This could mean that if you are killing the 'wrong' slug
then...oops!
The bottom line being...we don't know enough about all this stuff.
Gary
Fort Langley, BC
Canada

To reply please remove...yoursocks...

I've used beer with very good results.

I guess if you had neighborhood cats or dogs this would not work.

But...a little beer goes a long way with slugs. And you should see the
slimy trails when slugs are intoxicated...very interesting to see indeed.

I just pour small amount into coffee can plastic lids (has to be low enough
for slug to crawl over) and what does not evaporate must get inhaled by
slugs...they seem not to know the difference between black label and
Killian's. My friend wonders if slugs like "Mike's hard lemonade"...but I
haven't cared enough to experiment.

Take care,
Tracy
"gary davis" wrote in message
...
On 6/29/04 10:36 PM, in article ,
"gary
davis" wrote:

On 6/21/04 6:16 AM, in article
, "Ginny Sher"
wrote:

(Beth Pierce) wrote in message
. com...
Phisherman wrote in message news:
Iron phosphate. It's good for plants, bad for slugs. I believe the
product "Sluggo" has iron phosphate.

Thank you very much. I'll look into the iron phosphate.

Also, a solution of 15% amonia and 85% water in a spray bottle kills
them and doesn't hurt the plants.

Ginny
In spite of the problems slugs cause to our vegetables they actually do
a
good service. They turn plants into food for plants. I think they prefer
old
dead stuff. They also eat dog and/or coyote poop...
The key is to put them were they will do the most good....take them to
the
local bush.
My grand daughter was very excited to find one. The slug was moving ever
so
slowly with it's antennae fully extended. It was a sight to behold.
Well,
actually two sights 1. My grand daughter's enthusiasm and 2. The slug.
It was an interesting experience. I now take 'my' slugs to 'higher
ground'...the bush.
Gary
Fort Langley, BC
Canada


To reply please remove...yoursocks...

Oh, I forgot to mention this: I have heard that some slugs will eat 'some
slugs'. I think it was the leopard slug that eats the little ones...the
ones
that do the damage. This could mean that if you are killing the 'wrong'
slug
then...oops!
The bottom line being...we don't know enough about all this stuff.
Gary
Fort Langley, BC
Canada

To reply please remove...yoursocks...

"Tracy McDaniel" wrote in message
...
I've used beer with very good results.

I guess if you had neighborhood cats or dogs this would not work.

But...a little beer goes a long way with slugs. And you should see the
slimy trails when slugs are intoxicated...very interesting to see indeed.

I just pour small amount into coffee can plastic lids (has to be low
enough
for slug to crawl over) and what does not evaporate must get inhaled by
slugs...they seem not to know the difference between black label and
Killian's. My friend wonders if slugs like "Mike's hard lemonade"...but I
haven't cared enough to experiment.


I don't understand why people insist that containers of beer have to be low.
The slugs in my area can climb several feet up pants to get to the tasty
parts. I put out containers of yeasted sugar water recently that were about
4 inches tall and they didn't have any problems climbing up the slick
plastic cups to get at the solution.

"Vox Humana" wrote in
:

The slugs in my area can climb several feet up pants to get to
the tasty parts.

Alright, who's been putting Viagra in the slug bait? Fess up.

Has any one here tried diatomacious earth? I have had very good luck
with it over the years and it is inexpensive, and used sparingly,
about as safe as any thing other than beer G.... just don't do it on
a windy day and don't breath it as it will irritate the lungs... it is
also good for pets as it is bad for fleas. and about the ability of
slugs to climb..before i found out about DE, the boogers had the trunk
of 40 ft tree slimed from climbing it and i used tuna cans for beer
and they had no problem; sometimes as many as 20 or 30 a night in one
tuna can! . I think there is more informationon on the net for the
DE, like a Google search.
lee h

(P2) wrote in message . com...
Sluggo is the brand name . . . . it is basically ironite with a snail
attractant . . . good for your garden, bad for the snails (dries them
out when they injest the ironite) A bit more expensive than some
snail baits, however it is safe around pets and kids!

Thanks for the story about the drunk skunk! Priceless.

p2

(Beth Pierce) wrote in message . com...
Now I am
quite familiar with the term "Drunk as a skunk".

Anyway, does anyone have any ideas as to an organic slug killer?

I have had success with crushed up egg shells. I do this in the spring,
just as the hostas are starting to emerge from their winter sleep. I wash
the shells, then crush them in my hands and spread them in and around the
hostas. This has just about eliminated sluggies from eating holes in the
hosta leaves.

Another good thing is I don't have to do this every year, as the egg shells
seem to take quite a while to break down.

Dee

In article ,
gary davis wrote:

In spite of the problems slugs cause to our vegetables they actually do a
good service. They turn plants into food for plants.

I was hoping to turn plants into food for me. sigh