stu Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 My four chilli seedlings have 'bit the dust'... along with three of my cherry tomato seedlings too. Am gutted..! The snail in residence, and deemed guilty by virtue of it being there... apart from me hoping it suffers severe heart-burn... has been thrown to the sparrows. Gardening..! Feels like war sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 I sympathise muchly! Although on a brighter note I only sowed my toms and peppers a couple of weeks back and already they need pricking out - the last couple of days they really have gone bonkers. It's still early enough and peppers seem to mature around October time anyway. I was late sowing last year an they did catch up really quickly so you should be fine to have another bash at it. At least you have sorted out the culprit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 sink a paper cup with beer in it at the same level as the plants and they will happily drown very drunk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggasperated Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 Much sympathy - I have an ongoing problem with slugs in the polytunnel, nearly everyday I have to sort through my root trainers and pick the slugs out of the little grooves, unfortunately not quickly enough to save all my brussel sprouts . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbug Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 I don't like slugs either I collect them late at night......put them in a bucket of beer......not nice but they eat all my plants Amazing how many slugs are about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted April 7, 2014 Author Share Posted April 7, 2014 Yes... it's amazing... you never seem to see a slug or a snail until you try and grow something and the amount just a single snail can eat..? Wow..!! My wife suggested I replant and keep the new seedlings next to something 'aromatic'... apparently they avoid 'smelly' plants..? Worth a try as I have geraniums and lavender going too, and they are untouched, as yet. And yes too... we are really just coming into the warmer weather, so not too much of a setback, but still... *sigh* The only beer traps i use are in the raised beds... Stupidly, I didn't think the greenhouse was at risk but we live and learn Incidentally... I paid €4.99 for a pack of chilli seeds... which had inside it 7 seeds... 5 grew, and 4 demolished one i looked at had a leaf left and a new set coming... so am hopeful it might survive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbug Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 Yes... it's amazing... My wife suggested I replant and keep the new seedlings next to something 'aromatic'... apparently they avoid 'smelly' plants..? Worth a try as I have geraniums and lavender going too, and they are untouched, as yet. Incidentally... I paid €4.99 for a pack of chilli seeds... which had inside it 7 seeds... 5 grew, and 4 demolished one i looked at had a leaf left and a new set coming... so am hopeful it might survive. Planting them next to smelly plants good idea I have heard this before Could you start them on the windowsill? £4.99 wow your slugs have expensive tastes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 Fortunately I checked my greenhouse before we went away last week and noticed one of our tomato seedlings had been felled so I put slug pellets down and only lost one other one last week. It is so annoying to lose seedlings at this stage, still early enought to resow though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 15, 2014 Share Posted April 15, 2014 If you only have one plant then you can always use the side shoots to make more - which is what I do with the Sungolds - the seeds are so expensive for just a few - all this F1 hybrid stuff so you can't save seed. I sow about 5 seeds and make up the rest needed from the cuttings - and that way I am sticking my thumb on my nose and wiggling my fingers at the seed companies. I'm sure it wasn't as expensive in the old days - and we got more seeds for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
