Growing slug-free radishes

[Primrose]

I've loads of packets of radish seed to use up so have been sowing them wherever a spare patch of soil appears in my vegetable patch as we like them. However I simply can't produce any which are free of slug bites which has ruined most of them, despite putting down slug pellets.
Does anybody have a slug-proof way of growing them in the soil, rather than in containers or growbags where slugs can't easily get to them?

[Nature's Babe]

Hi Primrose, Garden organic surround beds with copper tape, it gives slugs a shock, from static I guess. Slugs don't like crossing used coffee grounds, or crushed egg shells either, see your local cafe for coffee grounds. My latest plan is sheep wool round the beds, that deters them too

[Urban Fox]

a while back they featured a specialist Hosta grower on Gardener's World. I don't like hostas - but these ones looked great - no slug damage. They had a special slug repellent that seemed to work very well. here is the recipe...

2 Bulbs (not cloves) of garlic crushed
Add to 2 pints water
Boil for 3-4 mins
Strain mixture and make up to 2 pints again
Let mixture cool
Transfer mix to a suitable container (I put mine in a plastic milk bottle)
Use 1 tablespoon of garlic mix to 1 gallon of water when needed and sprinkle/spray over leaves in the evening when slugs are active.
re-apply after the rain.

It will stink out the house - so make sure it is a windy day and all the windows are open

Newcastle university also found garlic can kill slug eggs
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3104302.stm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/scie ... nails.html

It might be interesting to see if the smell will deter carrot root fly too. I might try it as an experiment next year.

so make sure you leave space to grow an extra row of garlic on the allotment.

[Nature's Babe]

Another tip Primrose, if you are an early riser, water first thing in the morning, it will dry during the day and be less wet and inviting for slugs when they start to get active.