Spuds, how do you keep the slugs out?
Roitelet Offline
Member
#1
My spuds did well this year despite lousy weather and blight. The only problem with them is that they are full of slug damage. When using them I can only use about half of the flesh, the chickens have the rest! I don’t dig much and sheet compost, could this be something to do with it? If I can’t find a solution I may give up growing them.
[-] The following 1 user Likes Roitelet's post:
  • Can the Man
Reply

Admin Offline
The Boss
#2
I think you have answered your own question Roitelet, under the sheet will be like a 5star hotel for slugs, damp, humid and a plentiful food source.
I am only the Boss because Veggie lets me be!
[-] The following 2 users Like Admin's post:
  • Can the Man, Roitelet
Reply

Broadway Offline
Member
#3
(05-12-2021, 03:43 PM)Roitelet Wrote: My spuds did well this year despite lousy weather and blight. The only problem with them is that they are full of slug damage. When using them I can only use about half of the flesh, the chickens have the rest! I don’t dig much and sheet compost, could this be something to do with it? If I can’t find a solution I may give up growing them.
Not sure it answers your q Roitelet but I was disappointed with this years yield so will be using 30ltr pots next year instead of raised beds

I'm also assuming the pots will have less slugs but who knows?
Regards..........Danny Smile
[-] The following 2 users Like Broadway's post:
  • Can the Man, Roitelet
Reply

toomanytommytoes Offline
Member
#4
Due to space restrictions I've only ever grown potatoes in pots and never had any slug damage. There are some varieties which are marketed as slug resistant, e.g. Kestrel. I agree that the sheet composting is a likely culprit. Slug nematodes could be helpful if you can get them.
[-] The following 3 users Like toomanytommytoes's post:
  • Broadway, Can the Man, Roitelet
Reply

Mark_Riga Offline
Member from Cheshire
#5
I find earlies and 2nd earlies are less damaged. This year, most earies harvested by 5th July and second earlies by 17th July. For maincrop, Carolus seem to suffer less than other varieties. I don't leave them in the ground any longer than needed. I usually plant a few Alouette and harmony maincrop which both suffer a lot more than the Carolus. These are all dug by early September at latest.
[-] The following 3 users Like Mark_Riga's post:
  • Broadway, Can the Man, Roitelet
Reply

Admin Offline
The Boss
#6
I don't grow many spuds, only first earlies, in pots which has both advantages and disadvantages.

No volunteers is a real advantage but having to keep them well watered is a bit of a pain.
I am only the Boss because Veggie lets me be!
[-] The following 3 users Like Admin's post:
  • Broadway, Can the Man, Roitelet
Reply

toomanytommytoes Offline
Member
#7
Yeah the watering is a faff and pots tend to produce a lower yield. You can try what I've seen a few Youtubers do and put the pots on top of soil, then mound the soil around the base so the roots can get out of the holes and find more moisture.
[-] The following 4 users Like toomanytommytoes's post:
  • Admin, Broadway, Can the Man, Roitelet
Reply

Broadway Offline
Member
#8
(05-12-2021, 07:24 PM)toomanytommytoes Wrote: Yeah the watering is a faff and pots tend to produce a lower yield. You can try what I've seen a few Youtubers do and put the pots on top of soil, then mound the soil around the base so the roots can get out of the holes and find more moisture.
That was my planSmile
Regards..........Danny Smile
[-] The following 3 users Like Broadway's post:
  • Can the Man, Roitelet, toomanytommytoes
Reply

Vinny Online
Geordie living 'ower the watter'
#9
The only time I have grown spuds without keel slug damage (apart from my potted plants of course) was when I grew them in depresions in soil filled with uncomposted hoss muck. It was given to us as muck but was basically sawdust soaked with hoss wee with a smigen of poo which must have been cleaned out of the stables. As well as holding the moisture the potatoes I harvested were clean s a whistle and slug free. Cool

All I did was take a couple of trowel fulls of soil from each planting station, put a handful of 'muck' in and topped up in a small heap with muck. Smile

I have grown Kestrel in the past which does have a degree of slug resiistance. What worries me is whats' in em tht the slugs don't like! Cry
"The problem with retirement is that you never get a day off"- Abe Lemons
[-] The following 1 user Likes Vinny's post:
  • Roitelet
Reply

Bren Offline
Member
#10
I grow Charlottes in boxes and buckets using a mix of Dalek compost, soil and leaf mould up to yet I've had no slug damage like others have said we you to keep up with the watering.
[-] The following 1 user Likes Bren's post:
  • Roitelet
Reply





Users browsing this thread:
1 Guest(s)



Theme © iAndrew 2018 - Forum software by © MyBB .