[Help] Gardeners Question Time.

[Weststander]

As I said they work for me otherwise I wouldn’t have shared it. I have densely packed flower beds too - I trim the lower leaves off and thin out my beds a bit. Also I plant stuff mixed into the beds that slugs don’t like.

Nothing works on its own, it takes a multi-pronged approach. Will post some Lupins over the weekend- slugs love them but I manage to keep them at bay.

Btw - we have enormous yellow slugs in Norfolk so don’t think you are worse off!

NB water early morning before sun is up - watering in the evening leaves wet soil overnight and attracts slugs!

Also I don’t put plugs straight in ground - I I let them establish themselves in pots first for several months - or pack wool pellets round them.

Good luck View attachment 204249

The GQT team made a remark about slugs. The huge slugs eat the smaller species slugs . They said it’s the small slugs that attack Hostas, Lupins and Delphiniums.

 

[Coldeanseagull]

The GQT team made a remark about slugs. The huge slugs eat the smaller species slugs . They said it’s the small slugs that attack Hostas, Lupins and Delphiniums.

Somebody needs to tell my slugs there's a pecking order

 

[Jack Straw]

Sorry you’ve lost me - I haven’t a clue what you are talking about

Sorry, my post was very complimentary though! Try this;

Dragons' Den (British TV programme) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Zeberdi]

The GQT team made a remark about slugs. The huge slugs eat the smaller species slugs . They said it’s the small slugs that attack Hostas, Lupins and Delphiniums.

You aren’t suggesting we farm super-slugs are you ?

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

The GQT team made a remark about slugs. The huge slugs eat the smaller species slugs . They said it’s the small slugs that attack Hostas, Lupins and Delphiniums.

However, presumably the large slugs don't start out like that.

 

[1066familyman]

The GQT team made a remark about slugs. The huge slugs eat the smaller species slugs . They said it’s the small slugs that attack Hostas, Lupins and Delphiniums.

Exactly that!

I think there's about 20 species of UK slugs and only about half a dozen of them eat our plants.

N.B. Haven't checked for actual figures.

 

[Weststander]

You aren’t suggesting we farm super-slugs are you ?

Are you Norfolk based?

 

[Weststander]

Exactly that!

I think there's about 20 species of UK slugs and only about half a dozen of them eat our plants.

N.B. Haven't checked for actual figures.

Do you still garden for ecosystems / native wildlife? A few years ago you may’ve mentioned that?

 

[1066familyman]

Do you still garden for ecosystems / native wildlife? A few years ago you may’ve mentioned that?

Don't really have a proper garden unfortunately. That's why I only lurk around this thread from time to time.

I did work at a horticultural project full-time time for 18 years though, mainly in the veg garden, and was always fully organic and working with wildlife in mind.

Same with our allotment that we had for over 10 years when the kids were growing up.

I'm very encouraged by the work you're doing and many others, and very very pleased to see the way councils tend to deal with verges and a lot of public spaces these days

 

[A mex eyecan]

Our wildlife pond has welcomed its first frog two months after digging it out!

View attachment 204157View attachment 204156View attachment 204155

love that, it looks so good. I’d quite like to put in a natural pond, fairly small. Can I ask if you find it attracts mozzies? I get bitten over and above anyone and suffer with extreme reactions at times. I’ve been hospitalised 4 times on intravenous drips because of the bloody things.

 

[Weststander]

love that, it looks so good. I’d quite like to put in a natural pond, fairly small. Can I ask if you find it attracts mozzies? I get bitten over and above anyone and suffer with extreme reactions at times. I’ve been hospitalised 4 times on intravenous drips because of the bloody things.

It will attract them. I’m prone to bite reactions too, but nothing like to your extent. I have to use a Jungle type deterrent spray if it becomes a problem. [Still haven’t got round to putting a pond in, only because it’ll be quite big and lots of other project before then].

 

[A mex eyecan]

It will attract them. I’m prone to bite reactions too, but nothing like to your extent. I have to use a Jungle type deterrent spray if it becomes a problem. [Still haven’t got round to putting a pond in, only because it’ll be quite big and lots of other project before then].

i’m on the jungle formula ‘max’ constantly. I take anti histamine from April until end Oct. I’m fortunate that my GP will pre prescribe AB’s for me to take with me each time I go abroad. I also keel cortisone cream on hand all the time.

 

[Weststander]

i’m on the jungle formula ‘max’ constantly. I take anti histamine from April until end Oct. I’m fortunate that my GP will pre prescribe AB’s for me to take with me each time I go abroad. I also keel cortisone cream on hand all the time.

That cream is heaven I find, stops the urge to scratch.

When I hear the little feckers in our lounge in the evening, I have fly spray to hand. Would rather that, than a week tormented by itchy bumps.

 

[The Grockle]

love that, it looks so good. I’d quite like to put in a natural pond, fairly small. Can I ask if you find it attracts mozzies? I get bitten over and above anyone and suffer with extreme reactions at times. I’ve been hospitalised 4 times on intravenous drips because of the bloody things.

For the first few weeks it was infested with rat tailed maggots and mosquito larvae but now it's settled i don't notice any really. Within 2 weeks we attracted lots of Damselflies so I think their larvae may have helped control the numbers of mosquitoes.

The number of visitng birds has probably trebled and our resident bats feed off the midges, they come right down into the garden now rather than just fly over. Highly recommend adding one to the garden if you can

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

In the heatwaves we often get in recent years, does it have a cooler microclimate on those days?

Just experimented with a very accurate thermometer at 5 feet from the ground. The two nearest weather stations are measuring 18C at the moment and so is Google. Readings at various places in the garden, in shade, are measuring mostly 21C except where it's deepest and even then 20C. Shows how important a canopy can be both for increasing growth levels in the growing season and also for increasing the likelihood that half hardy, or even plants considered tender, make it through winter.

 

[Jack Straw]

Just experimented with a very accurate thermometer at 5 feet from the ground. The two nearest weather stations are measuring 18C at the moment and so is Google. Readings at various places in the garden, in shade, are measuring mostly 21C except where it's deepest and even then 20C. Shows how important a canopy can be both for increasing growth levels in the growing season and also for increasing the likelihood that half hardy, or even plants considered tender, make it through winter.
View attachment 204345View attachment 204346View attachment 204347

Careful. It's a jungle out there!
Have I mentioned I've bought some Echium Wildpretii seedlings? I bought 5, but two of them had additional seedlings almost stuck together, which I've successfully separated, so I've now got 7 which I've potted up in to small pots.
I've no room at my place, so they're currently residing on the window-sill of a friend's garage. I'll take a photo of them next time I'm there..
I'll be happy if I can get one of them through the winter to plant out next summer. They're amazing plants.

Echium wildpretii

Echium wildpretii - it's not about the flowers

www.cooltropicalplants.com

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Careful. It's a jungle out there!
Have I mentioned I've bought some Echium Wildpretii seedlings? I bought 5, but two of them had additional seedlings almost stuck together, which I've successfully separated, so I've now got 7 which I've potted up in to small pots.
I've no room at my place, so they're currently residing on the window-sill of a friend's garage. I'll take a photo of them next time I'm there..
I'll be happy if I can get one of them through the winter to plant out next summer. They're amazing plants.

Echium wildpretii

Echium wildpretii - it's not about the flowers

www.cooltropicalplants.com

They are amazing! I haven't ever managed to overwinter them. I tried in Liverpool but it was too damp. I haven't tried down here though. They are much 'daintier' than pininana but less hardy.