All is not well in the vegetable plot. I normally like to look on the positive side of life - but am finding it increasingly hard. Everything seems to be against veg growing this year - the weather in particular - but there is also the question of how to control the insects and gastropods that have invaded the garden.
I went to the top of the garden to check on the potatoes that are growing in sacks and was dismayed to find that the foliage in one sack had turned black. When I tipped the contents out into the wheelbarrow I found that all the potatoes were rotten - I can only presume it is caused by potato blight. The other three sacks seemed to be okay but I decided not to take any chances and emptied them out too. The potatoes looked as though they hadn't been affected but the foliage had been badly eaten by something- I have never known slugs or snails to eat potato foliage before.
There were still snails crawling all over the plants - and then I found this 'den of iniquity' (bottom right) - I'm not sure what the collective noun is for a gathering of slugs - perhaps a 'slime' of slugs would be appropriate.
So I dealt with all those problems and decided to inspect everything else that could be attacked - and found this
One of my gooseberry bushes had been practically stripped of all its leaves - the gooseberry sawfly menace is amongst us. I couldn't believe it - the bush was perfectly alright yesterday.
I wonder what else is going to go wrong and what other beasties are going to find refuge in my garden to cause havoc and destruction - only time will tell.
So I dealt with all those problems and decided to inspect everything else that could be attacked - and found this
I wonder what else is going to go wrong and what other beasties are going to find refuge in my garden to cause havoc and destruction - only time will tell.
Sorry to hear about these problems, Elaine. Sometimes it is very soul-destroying to see all your hard work destroyed like this. Wouldn't you have thought that by now the sophisticated science and technology available to us today would have found a way of eliminating slugs and snails permanently?
ReplyDeleteI am sure that they have their place on this planet and are useful for something - I just wish they would go and do it somewhere else.
DeleteElaine my friend and fellow plot holder has used Nematodes for slugs and snails watered on with a can, she did a trial with one side treated other side not the idea being to break the slugs and snails cycles. The side treated has cured the problem the other side not It cost her about £20 for the whole plot to be treated (6 rods)but that`s what I`m using next season
ReplyDeleteWorth bearing in mind - I've never known it so bad as this year.
DeleteI don't think the nematodes are effective on snails Elaine as they work underground. We treated our carrot patch with them this year but still have slug/snail damage but maybe would have had more damage if we hadn't used them at all. The nematodes need reapplying three times during the year and don't work if the temperature drops too low.
DeleteI was wondering about that myself - I will just have to content myself with slug traps and the like.
DeleteIt's really disheartening to lose plants to the slugs and other beasties. There will be other tasty harvests to make up for it though - keep positive!
ReplyDeleteYou're right of course - I'll keep saying the mantra 'I must be positive, I must be positive' OK I feel better now!
DeleteVery sad to see the damage these creatures cause. I too have noticed a rise in the number of snails this year, probably because of the wet weather. Keep positive. Vigilance will win in the end.
ReplyDeleteIt serves me right for being smug when everyone else was showing what damage had been done to their young plants
DeleteOh I feel your pain...I have mildew on my beloved cucumbers and now a beetle eating our lavenders & rosemary. It's 10pm now & Mr TG is outside snail bashing!!!
ReplyDeleteYour cucumbers should survive despite the mildew - it happens to me every year - try spraying the leaves with water - I think it is a dry atmosphere that causes mildew. I feel like a bit of snail bashing myself.
DeleteIt is a shame but this is why organic gardening was not popular for a long while, because it didn't work real well and was a lot harder than just spraying or spreading poison and killing all the bugs.
ReplyDeleteI suppose we just have to take the bad with the good in the insect world - it is very frustrating though.
DeleteGosh, this is so frustrating. I check my garden every day and am amazed when I find no bugs. This year has been good so far, but as everything is doing so well I'm expecting the worst ANY DAY!
ReplyDeleteI have to use slug pellets at the very beginning of the planting season, and buy a 'wildlife friendly' variety. Otherwise my only weapon is an old Badminton racket for the Cabbage Whites!
It always seems to take me by surprise every year when things start getting attacked by one thing or another - I never seem to learn!
ReplyDeleteOur cherry tree leaves have been devastated by something!
ReplyDeleteMine too Sue and the plum tree - what's going on this year?
DeleteOh no - that is so disappointing, Elaine, although you were probably wise to be cautious about the other sacks of spuds. I hope all your other veggies do well and keep collecting those slugs - you WILL win!
ReplyDeleteThe little varmints seem to be multiplying before my very eyes - I seem to be on slug watch almost permanently at the moment - grrr.
DeleteWhat a year we're having, if it's not the weather, then it's pests, though I suspect that this wet weather is slug heaven and that's why we're noticing more damage than usual by them this year. It's always a case of win some, lose some in the garden, so fingers crossed that your other crops make up for the damaged ones.
ReplyDeleteYes you're right Jo - most things are growing well - I will just have to lower my expectations a little.
DeleteSorry to hear your potatoes got the blight,Elaine. Those slugs do seem to multiply before our eyes, and have you noticed the size of them this year....you could nearly saddle them up...!!
ReplyDeleteI have noticed the size Cath - I wonder what they would taste like fried in a little butter. That would be one way to get your own back on the little blighters.
DeleteOh, this is terrible. May the force be with you to end this havoc and destruction, Elaine.
ReplyDeleteIt's only a minor mishap Beth - everything else is doing just fine.
DeleteThat was early to have blight. For a change I think we have had better weather this Summer. I don't think the sawfly should harm your Gooseberry crop.
ReplyDeleteIt may not have been blight just rot from all the wet but it still destroyed a bag of potatoes.
DeleteWhat a shame! I hope everything else is ok! I would be very upset if something happened to my gooseberries because they are one of my favourite things! There are a lot of slugs and snails about in my garden too, but fingers crossed, I am on top of it for the moment. Keeping my eyes peeled!
ReplyDeleteAlthough the gooseberry bush looks pretty devastating the gooseberries seem to be ok - if it's not one thing it's another! That's gardening for you.
DeleteEek! Not blight - Blackleg? http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=223
ReplyDeleteInteresting comments about slugs and snails eating potato tops. I was making the same observation myself. Slug pellets (organic approved) on potatoes? Could get expensive!
I think I've heard of blackleg before - will have to look it up - I'm not really too worried about the tops being eaten - it is unusual though - can't say it has happened before.
DeleteOh my goodness, that is bad news. I've always had some problems with slugs and snails on potatoes. I've been out 'catching' slugs the past two weeks with the wet weather we're having. Apparently there are several hundred of slugs in an average garden. Hope your other crops thrive!
ReplyDeleteEverything else seems to be doing fine - I am keeping a watchful eye out though - things can change very quickly.
DeleteI have every sympathy with you, its been such a hard year for veg growers, I've heard quite a few people talk about slugs and snail eating their potato foliage, especially if they are grown in sacks or bags. The slug/snail problem seems to be a recurring theme on blogs, we are all suffering. Try to keep positive. This weather can't last all summer, can it!?
ReplyDeleteI do hope we get a little bit of summer for more than a couple of days at a time - have hardly touched my summer clothes yet.
DeleteSame has happened to a friend who has an 'allotment' garden here between the flats and railway lines. She's very disheartened at losing all her beans, etc, but has invested in slug traps. I didn't really have any probs last year - a few slugs found in the nasturtiums in autumn - but this year am finding more. Bumped into a local keen gardener yesterday who said he's picking up over 60 every morning in his garden! Puts my problems in perspective. And sawfly? They've had my balcony sage... :-(
ReplyDeleteThis is turning out to be my 'annus horribilis' to quote the Queen - on the bright side - none of my brassicas have been slugged yet.
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