It works Robin , for many years I managed to protect the delphiniums as they grew by using fircones around the base of the tender young plants as they grew.
The fircones look ok in the garden as well and are a free product as they can be collected .

With beer traps for the slugs , they work well in empty grapefruit halves that have been ' sunk' into the ground . The grapefruit 'shell' can be emptied and used a few times before being composted.
For some reason the slugs are attracted to both the beer and the grapefruit.

Last edited by mummza (Thu 07 Oct 10 11:27pm)

Hello!  I have just joined Jamie's site!  I love what Jamie is doing and am trying to do what he is doing here in Fremont, CA.  I am hoping he will come visit once I get it going.. A real inspiration to me for sure Do you read this Jamie Oliver??  Please come to Fremont, we have lots of Indian food which I know you love! I am a holistic nutritionist that specializes in nutrient-dense, allergen-free, farm-to-table cooking.. You can find me by googling Angela S Huang sf nutrition examiner..  and I have a facebook group called Real Food is Real Healthy.. currently working on my website..  Thanks for being an inspiration!!!

RobinMcaf wrote:

Re natural slug pretadors - you can also buy nematodes. I have tried this in a garden and it really works. They are tiny organisms that destroy slugs. You add a little packet to a watering can, water the affected area and then find lots of exploded slugs in the area. The little nematodes enter the slugs and release a bacteria that kills them. They then keep looking for more slugs so it is a good sustainable solution. Just search for slug nematodes on google and you'll find plenty of online companies that sell them.

WOW! DANGER, UNEXPLODED SLUG!
Thanks Robin!
Little Ridley Scott slug aliens.
It's a bit disconcerting to have found that I have a sadistic streak. Do they affect anything apart from slugs.

TerryKay wrote:

WOW! DANGER, UNEXPLODED SLUG!
Thanks Robin!
Little Ridley Scott slug aliens.
It's a bit disconcerting to have found that I have a sadistic streak. Do they affect anything apart from slugs.

Hi TerryKay,

You can buy nematodes for many different kinds of pests. Even the dreaded Vine Weevil. I've personally only used the slug ones though. But I think I'll test the Vine Weevil one this year because they bring out my sadistic streak and I don't like using chemicals.

Could I ask about the pic on the main page(jamie oliver->gardening) where it shows basil and maybe fenugreek?

Any good suggestions on fenugreek? I mean, I read that it need quite a rich soil so I fertilized mine quite good(sorry no compost in Greece, too expensive yet). Any other good tips? Mine get a bit...well...dead where they touch the soil after a while...

Cheers Robin