Slug attacK! Last night I went outside about 11pm and found quite a few slugs attached to my spinach leaves. It seems they not gonig for my broccoli plants, just the spinach. So over the next few days I really have to find a solution for this, many of the leaves now have holes in them lol. I should have really sorted this out sooner but will find something to keep them away! When the spinach is ready to harvest can I eat the spinach leaves that only have small hole in? If I wash them properly of course?
The broccoli plants clearly need spacing more, I think i'm going to just about be able to fit 5 into that box but a lot more in the other one.
Carrots, well not much to say about these really. Starting to take on a different appearance now than that of just grass.
And my best plants are the cherry tomato plants. Soon to find their home in the garden at the end of May, i'm leaving them out until the evening at the moment for them to get used to slightly colder temperatures. They look very healthy.
The strawberry plants are finally starting to grow a bit faster. They took a very long time to get started, slowest plant I've ever seen grow! Pics of them next week :)
I have some miracle grow that I picked up from the supermarket the other day. I have yet to use it. Does anyone else use this and how have they found it? A big difference in plant growth?
Anyway I'm off right now to start picking out some of the weeds that have grown in the boxes!
4 comments:
I must admit I'm very impressed by your vegetable garden progress so far :)
In my opinion, the leaves with holes in them are fine, just make sure you wash them thoroughly, and they will still be good to eat (I eat my leafy veg with holes all the time whilst I remain dependent on purchasing them at flea markets). Although while growing them they must be carefully watched with a close eye as they maybe more susceptible to further damage due to diseases/pests.
You may also want to grow some legumes/beans near your other plants, as they are nitrogen-fixing and can enhance the quality of your soil. Earth worms will also do wonders to the soil by increasing aeration as well as enriching it with their droppings.
Hope this helps; good luck to you and your plants, and keep us updated! :)
PS. Here's a short video that might be interesting and or helpful in some way or another: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXGqJbFZzCo
Looking good!
For the slugs - you either pellet with the least harmful to wildlife pellets that you can (not really ideal), get some nematodes and water them in, or go out every night and pick the nasty things off and then dispose of them as you will.
I'd also plant some companion flowers if you can; nasturtiams (I've spelt that wrong but can't remember how now) or calendula, especially near the broccoli. With luck the cabbage whites will go for them and not for your brasssicas.
There are some slug remedies here:
http://www.greendealer-exotic-seeds.com/seeds/HowtoSlugs.html
I'd hate to use commercial stuff, it's probably too late to gather enough eggshells, and salting them is just gross, so maybe the beer-traps is the kindest way.
Another link:
http://www.greendealer-exotic-seeds.com/seeds/HowtoSlugs.html
recommends spraying your plants with instant coffee, and of course the coffee grounds and used tea leaves, while they won't help your bug problem much, ought to help your soil.
The garden's looking great!
I envy you!
By the way, what do you think about this?
http://www.imminst.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=30430&hl=
The article seems pretty polemical, and untrustworthy, but perhaps has a kernel of truth.
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