Allotment - Slugs/snails etc

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Hi all,

I have registered my interest in getting an allotment. They are a few minutes walk from my house which makes it even more appealing.

I am a complete beginner but have enjoyed growing things during lockdown. I did well growing my flowers from seeds but all the veg ended up being gobbled up when they sprouted.

How do you stop slugs/snails etc from feasting on your produce? Is there anyway without using pesticides? I’d like to use as few chemicals as possible (ideally none)!

I don't have an allotment or grow vegetables but this is my experience from my garden.

• plant slug resistant varieties. This is the single biggest thing you can do to deter them.
• Young plants are the most susceptible. If you can protect your plants when they are young and tender that will go a long way.
• I use nematodes. Especially in the autumn and early spring when young slugs are underground. I apply every 4-6 weeks between March and October. I have a hose end feeder which makes application quick and easy.
• nematodes don't kill snails. I patrol the garden like a crazy lady and pick them off and drop them in beer. Over time I've learned where they hide and what they like to eat in the garden.
• this year I've made slug collars from empty plastic bottles. They seem to have helped protect my sunflowers which are often gobbled by snails.
• I sparingly use organic slug pellets to protect small areas for short periods of time for example to protect vulnerable young shoots before they toughen up and become less palatable.

It is an endless battle and I've often lost things overnight. But I try to keep on top of it and keep the numbers down, and this year I've managed not to lose too much to them.

Good luck!

My allotment is generally less full of slugs and snails than my garden. I think because more wildlife around to eat them (and fewer cats to scare off the wildlife). I do make collars for squash, courgette and cucumber plants though - slice About 3 inches off the top of something wide, plastic, and circular (I use old paint containers) and Then put copper tape (like sellotape made of copper) round it. Slugs and snails don’t like the copper.

Frogs! I have lots of frogs in the garden and I can’t remember the last time I saw a slug and the only snails I see live in the ivy on the house. The only problem is in spring, the froglets are tiny and I have probably stood on lots of them. Not sure if frogs cause additional problems though (but they do attract more birds).

Thanks for the tips!! I'm hoping to go for a tour of the allotments over the next few days to choose a plot which is very exciting. So no doubt, I will be back trawling through the threads!

Thanks again and have a lovely weekend 💐