Slug Update


 

What I am trying to avoid

 In desperation, after discovering slimy slug trails on the soil-blocks I had planted in the cold-frame, I decided to try some new slug-deterrent methods. I am really not a fan of beer traps because they need to be tended to on a daily(ish) basis, and you have to deal with a lot of gross slug carcasses. I had been using pellets, a product that eventually kills off the slug population, but is not an immediate protectant. This is not good enough when it comes to tiny baby seedlings. Every night counts! So I decided to pull out all the stops. I sprinkled the whole tray with a mixture of coffee grounds and crushed eggshells to form a physical barrier and keep my seed-babies completely slug-free.

First, I will tell you that this seems to have worked! Second, I will tell you why. Caffeine is a neurotoxin to the slugs, and the eggshells are sharp and dangerous for soft slimy slug bodies--plus they take a long time to degrade, so they work as long as. What I discovered in my collection of this material, however, was that you really have to remove the membrane from the inside of the eggshell before you crush it up, otherwise the whole thing just kind of sticks together. Luckily I (evidently) use a lot of eggs, so this wasn't a huge challenge, but it was kind of annoying and mildly gross to peel the membranes out from all of the eggshells.

In conclusion, the verdict is that this is an excellent (and FREE!) method of keeping slugs off of baby plants. I will continue to use it and will update again if I discover otherwise.

Back in the Saddle





March 15th, 2010

 
Well, I thought I was going to be accomplishing a lot in February this year. By this time last year (see photo at right), I had radishes and green-leafies well on their way to harvest.

But we got a serious February cold snap this year and it threw me off a little.

On the 13th I had planted a whole bunch of radishes, beets, lettuces and spinach in my cloched bed, and they are just now starting to germinate, nearly 3 weeks later. In ideal conditions, the radishes would be ready to eat 30 days from planting, but that is obviously not going to be the case this month. So I am being patient, trying to keep the moisture levels in the cloche just right, and waiting.

Meanwhile, I actually put some seeds into "the corn plot" last night after work.

First I worked in 1.25 cubic feet of Cedar Grove compost and a good helping of steer manure as well as about a cup full of all-purpose organic vegetable fertilizer. Working with the loose sifted soil was a dream and it was quick work. Since I am going to start the plot with peas, I rigged a trellis for them to grow on first, made of pipes and netting. I planted an 18" swath of sugar snap peas and 18" of shelling peas, separated bu about 12" of radishes. I sowed a row of compact lettuce seeds in front (why waste space?!) and threw some bright lights chard seeds into the corner beyond the trellis. Hopefully I will get some photos up soon!

I'm ready for Spring!

My wonderful husband bought me a pair of coveralls for Valentines Day!
The idea was that during these days of meager evening sunlight I could rush home, throw the coveralls on over my work clothes and dash outside to squeeze in a little gardening. And once the sun stays up later, I will still have an outfit I can put on without having to think about it and can leave hanging by the back door when I'm done outside.