I've found loads of these horrible little slugs on lots of my plants this last week. The rain has brought them out of hiding and now I'm finding them all over the place. This one is on my Aquilegia McKana Hybrid. I grew this from seed and forgot all about it until I found it languishing in a pot, so I popped it in to the border and it's now flowering. It's always exciting when a plant grown from a mixed packet of seeds comes in to flower. Until that time you've no idea what colour it's going to be. I'm quite happy with this one, though I do still prefer the purple Auilegia Vulgaris which has been in my border a couple of years. I hasten to add that the slug was removed and disposed of.
I didn't manage to get to the allotment at all this weekend due to other commitments, so I'm hoping to get up there this afternoon. It's high time my beans were planted out. The wigwams are already in place so it's only a matter of planting them around the base. I've also got my dwarf beans still in pots so I'll get them planted out too.
My tomatoes are growing well since they were potted on in to their final pots. They really need tying in to their canes again but hubby has gone off to work with the twine in his car, so that job will have to wait until later.
I'm fortunate in that I don't suffer too much from slugs - I only get the odd one or two, seldom a plague of them. We have had a lot of rain over the last few days, and you can almost hear the plants going "aaaahhhhh!" with pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of tomato plants from a mixed pack - "Rainbow Beefsteak", which had seeds of 5 different colours in it. I expect my two will be the same colour (and probably red too!).
I've had slug problems the past week as they've completely eaten six French Marigolds I only planted last Wednesday! Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteThey usually turn their noses (have they got them?) up at aquilegias Jo so hopefully your pretty plant should be unscathed. There seem to be a lot of them about just now ~ damp and mild suits them down to the ground:) Hope you managed to get to the allotment to get your jobs done.
ReplyDeleteSlugs must have a reason for being. Wonder what it is?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure the brown ones eat plants do they? They're still horrible though. Maybe a reason for being is to be food for other animals - just wish they'd hurry up and eat more of them.
ReplyDeleteWith hardly any rain we haven't seen many yet although they must be around as the hostas are being 'got at'. I have to look forward to my seed sown aquilegias flowering so I know just what you mean! Then there's the self sown cross pollinated ones to look forward to!
Pesky slugs, my garden is absolutly full of them, and snails. I've set out more beer traps. Some of the aquilegia seem to flower for quite a long time, a nice surprise. My purple one didn't flower very long and I agree it was the most striking in colour. Kelli
ReplyDeleteI don't seem to have a problem with slugs - I have a sneaky suspicion that a hedgehog patrols our garden - I have spotted the evidence now and then ....
ReplyDeleteI hope that very pretty acquilegia survives.
My veggies are growing madly Jo. I'm particularly pleased with the purple sprouting broccolli which are hearting up nicely, and my courgettes have huge flowers on them. We have had loads of rain past few weeks.
Jeanne
x
We had the slugs and snails arrive en-mass this week too. Thankfully they dont seem too good at getting into the greenhouse at the moment but I'm sure that won't last. We never seem to have any problem with them on the allotmet weirdly but at home they're a right pain!
ReplyDeleteThe slugs have been eating my sunflowers too. They are a real nuisance.
ReplyDeleteI agree that growing flowers from a mixed bag of seeds is exciting. We grew wildlowers a few years back and they were great.
It's a bumper year for slugs and snails. They're even marauding around in daylight. As I write the rain is absolutely chucking it down so no doubt they'll be sliming around happily.
ReplyDeleteWe're quite lucky with slugs in the garden too, Mark. We don't tend to see that many, but there were loads after the rain. It's a different story at the allotment though, we get plenty there. Can't wait to see what colour your tomatoes turn out to be.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your French marigolds, Flighty. I hope you've got some more plants in reserve.
I didn't know that slugs don't like aquilegias, Anna. It would seem you're right as my plant's untouched. I did manage a trip to the allotment, I managed to get the beans out.
I've been pondering that for a long time, Don't unplug your hub. Don't forget to let me know if you ever find out.
I just took it that all slugs eat plants, Sue. It would seem that some are worse than others then, though only marginally. I had a pink self sown aqulegia in the front garden this year. I still prefer the purple though.
I don't think it matters how many slugs you manage to dispose of Kelli, there's always more in the wings waiting to take their place. My purple aquilegia had a short flowering period too, though I think it flowered longer last year if I remember right.
Hedgehogs are the gardener's friend, Jeanne. We often see them out and about when giving Archie his last walk, but it's a long time since I've seen one in the garden. Your veggies sound to be doing well.
We're the other way round, Paul, plenty of slugs at the allotment, fewer in the garden, though I did find a huge one in the greenhouse the other day so be aware.
I like the sound of the wildflowers, Martin. It's not only the colours which will be a surprise with them but the actual flowers too. Hope your sunflowers survive the slug attacks.
I'm sure you'll notice lots more slugs and snails this year after all the rain you've had, Linda. Fingers crossed that some better weather is on it's way.
Your aquilegia very pretty. I did not know that slog attack aquilegia too. Must keep a close eye on our tiny seedlings.
ReplyDeleteI'm battling slugs in my samll garden at the moment too ;0(
ReplyDeleteThat's some creepy crawler, but he picked a pretty flower to embrace. Glad to hear your tomatoes are coming along. What varieties did you grow this year?
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting, Malay-Kadazan girl. My aquilegia is still intact so perhaps the slugs don't like the taste of them. I hope your seedlings do ok.
ReplyDeleteSlugs are my worst pest, Lynda. I haven't resorted to pellets yet though, I prefer to garden without them if I can.
I'm growing Tangella, Gardener's Delight and San Marzano tomatoes, Avis. I grew all these varieties last year and enjoyed them all. It's not like me to not try a new variety though.