On 10/10/06 18:00, in article
, "La Puce"
wrote:


Philippe Gautier wrote:
Funny, I tried the nematodes without any success in my garden and
concluded that it was too damp and cold!!!

Was it in spring? Because that's when you ought to do it. Twice at 3
weeks intervals.
snip

Very misleading indeed.

One *starts* applying it in spring when the ground has reached a temp of
above 5°C or 40°F. You can use nematodes outdoors between mid March and
October. It can/should then be used continually, every SIX WEEKS throughout
the year. It's also a good idea to apply it in autumn before the slugs lay
their eggs. You need to use it for 2 to 3 years before seeing the full
benefits but it certainly does work.
However, if you apply it only in spring and only twice at 3 weekly
intervals, of course it won't work.
For vine weevil, we apply it in April and October and we don't have vine
weevil.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

Sacha wrote:
On 10/10/06 18:00, in article
, "La Puce"
wrote:

Philippe Gautier wrote:
Funny, I tried the nematodes without any success in my garden and
concluded that it was too damp and cold!!!
Was it in spring? Because that's when you ought to do it. Twice at 3
weeks intervals.
snip

Very misleading indeed.

One *starts* applying it in spring when the ground has reached a temp of
above 5°C or 40°F. You can use nematodes outdoors between mid March and
October. It can/should then be used continually, every SIX WEEKS throughout
the year. It's also a good idea to apply it in autumn before the slugs lay
their eggs. You need to use it for 2 to 3 years before seeing the full
benefits but it certainly does work.
However, if you apply it only in spring and only twice at 3 weekly
intervals, of course it won't work.
For vine weevil, we apply it in April and October and we don't have vine
weevil.

I was rather fascinated by the TV program on slugs recently. some
university bods spent hours every day slug hunting in a confined are,
they found thousands over the "season". Next year, very much to their
surprise they found even more. The answer seems to be live with them.

On 11/10/06 15:35, in article , "Broadback"
wrote:

snip

I was rather fascinated by the TV program on slugs recently. some
university bods spent hours every day slug hunting in a confined are,
they found thousands over the "season". Next year, very much to their
surprise they found even more. The answer seems to be live with them.

Were they nematoding? The nematodes do work but they do take time and on
balance, we've probably found the vine weevil cures more effective than the
slugs. And a lot must depend on the area one is dealing with and so forth.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

Sacha wrote:
On 11/10/06 15:35, in article , "Broadback"
wrote:

snip
I was rather fascinated by the TV program on slugs recently. some
university bods spent hours every day slug hunting in a confined are,
they found thousands over the "season". Next year, very much to their
surprise they found even more. The answer seems to be live with them.

Were they nematoding? The nematodes do work but they do take time and on
balance, we've probably found the vine weevil cures more effective than the
slugs. And a lot must depend on the area one is dealing with and so forth.

No they were simply doing a survey over several years, and of course
expected a reduction after searching out and destroying all they could
find, but the numbers never went down.

On 11/10/06 16:15, in article , "Broadback"
wrote:

Sacha wrote:
On 11/10/06 15:35, in article , "Broadback"
wrote:

snip
I was rather fascinated by the TV program on slugs recently. some
university bods spent hours every day slug hunting in a confined are,
they found thousands over the "season". Next year, very much to their
surprise they found even more. The answer seems to be live with them.

Were they nematoding? The nematodes do work but they do take time and on
balance, we've probably found the vine weevil cures more effective than the
slugs. And a lot must depend on the area one is dealing with and so forth.

No they were simply doing a survey over several years, and of course
expected a reduction after searching out and destroying all they could
find, but the numbers never went down.

Sheer numbers of eggs from one slug would ensure that, I suppose.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 11/10/06 15:35, in article , "Broadback"
wrote:

snip

I was rather fascinated by the TV program on slugs recently. some
university bods spent hours every day slug hunting in a confined are,
they found thousands over the "season". Next year, very much to their
surprise they found even more. The answer seems to be live with them.

Were they nematoding? The nematodes do work but they do take time and on
balance, we've probably found the vine weevil cures more effective than
the
slugs. And a lot must depend on the area one is dealing with and so
forth.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

Have you found the slug nematodes effective in glasshouses? Certainly a few
friends and one retired semi commercial grower have total eradication.
I believe they are using them throughout the year as the glass is heated.
I can't quite understand what the megatoads live on once the slugs are all
deaded:-)
The vine weevil stuff worked a treat for me on potted brugsmanias but
unfortunately other sap sucking swine and nibblers caused very unsightly
damage. The flowers were worth waiting for,late, but a nice Autumn
display:-)

On 11/10/06 19:43, in article , "Rupert (W.Yorkshire)"
wrote:

snip
Have you found the slug nematodes effective in glasshouses? Certainly a few
friends and one retired semi commercial grower have total eradication.
I believe they are using them throughout the year as the glass is heated.
I can't quite understand what the megatoads live on once the slugs are all
deaded:-)
The vine weevil stuff worked a treat for me on potted brugsmanias but
unfortunately other sap sucking swine and nibblers caused very unsightly
damage. The flowers were worth waiting for,late, but a nice Autumn
display:-)


I asked my guru (!) who says that we don't use the slug nematodes in the
greenhouses and in fact, get very few in those. He puts that down to the
number of birds living in the houses and yesterday we found one of the many
toads that live in them, too. Big handsome chap he was, too! We use it
outside in some places but again, birds and toads do a great job for us. I
must say that, when I've been wedding the green houses, especially the prop
house with its young, succulent plants, I have found no adult slugs and few
babies. We have a strong and thriving bird population which helps
enormously.
The vine weevil stuff is excellent and really has done a good job. BTW, you
and other urglers may be interested to know that Ray and others using bio
controls found that using Sequestrene green (if I'm remembering the exact
name properly) where Encarsia was present resulted in the loss of the
Encarsia, even up to two or three years later.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/