Slugs.

[retropants]

I can't quite bring myself to collect a bucket full to take elsewhere, the thought makes me nauseated!

[PLUMPUDDING]

if you are collecting them in a bucket and want to kill them half fill the bucket with water and put a few generous squirts of washing up liquid in before you start. They climb out if you only use water but the washing up liquid makes them drown very quickly so is fairly humane. You can then compost them if you like but they are a bit stinky while they are rotting down if you don't cover them up well.

I still prefer to set them free. I did notice quite a lot of slugs on the pavement between where I threw the bucket full and my house, so perhaps they were on their way back. Hope no one slipped on them

[melliff]

I always plant out young plants surrounded by a plastic collar cut from plastic bottles. In previous years this has been fairly effective against slugs but this year they seem very adept at climbing the collars.

Anyone know of a translucent cream or gel that I could smear around the collar that would deter them? Vaseline? Lard? Vic's Vapour Rub?

[Santa_stunt_double]

Are they climbing the collars, or emulating the great escape in reverse, by tunneling under?

Paul

[oldherbaceous]

I'm sure someone said if WD40, or the like, is sprayed onto barriers it will stop them.....

[retropants]

Ooh! Interesting OH! I have a tin of that in the greenhouse, so will give it a go. I'll put it around the top edge of the propagators. Thank you.

[Gerry]

Has anyone had success with the grapefruit skins?

I have tried it for the first time and have had eight skins down, in my greenhouse and tunnel,for the last two weeks and have caught one keel slug. I reckon I'd have better results with a stone.

The grapefruit were the pink variety. Could that make a difference? Perhaps they're more partial to the ordinary type.

Regards, Gerry.

[Gerry]

Obviously an old wives tale then.

Regards, Gerry.

[JohnN]

Only female slugs go for the pink grapefruit

[alan refail]

Only female slugs go for the pink grapefruit

ALL slugs are male AND female.