Slug Success

Reporting on the first signs of success of the new slug traps. Because of the dry weather, they haven’t really been tested for their ability to protect plants or keep out rain, but its a good sign that slugs are being got.

Prototype Traps are Go!

Just before going away for 10 days I bought some plastic beakers with lids and cut into them my prototype planned slug trap holes around the top. I took some photos (which I will upload when back) and sunk them in the ground (5 in total, 4 around the onions and one in the bed by the compost) all primed with cheap beer. We shall see on our return how successful we have been!

Going by the plain glass jars I have used in the past, I would say that beer traps are pretty fool proof. The lids should keep the rain out, mostly, and should help encourage the slugs more as they should like the enclosed space more. We shall see.

 

Slug Trap Inspiration

Having decided that we would probably have to buy commercial slug traps to get what we want, I searched around until I found this one. Most slug traps have a container that going into the ground and a lid that keeps the rain off. I’ve used glass jars to good effect, but never found an easy rain cover solution and it was always a bit bad having so many glass jars laying around waiting to get broken.

This, however flashy they advertise it, could be a nice simple solution we could copy that I have been looking for. If we buy some small strong plastic storage jars with lids, then cut and smooth off some entry holes for the slugs, we should have something that could work. The plastic would have to be pretty strong so the holes don’t weaken it too much.

The plastic jar would be pushed into the ground until the soil is level with the entry holes, then the trap filled with beer before closing the lid.

Something like this: Plastic Beaker

Earwig Traps – Vegetable Oil

I really like growing sweetcorn, but I’ve never had much success. This I put down to many reasons, most of which should be fixed on our new plot. The main one that remains is EARWIGS! Whilst we’ve been digging and weeding to clear the plot I’ve seen loads of the buggers. Searching around I’ve see that actually they do more damage to other plants than I had realised (I’d see the damage, but never put it down to earwigs).

However, what I else I’ve found is that you can have a lot of success with traps. On the last shared plot I had a lot of success getting slugs with beer traps, which I’ll definitely repeat and upgrade for our plot. What I’ve see for earwigs is also a simple use of the same traps but with vegetable oil in for them to drown in. Some talk of adding something sweet like syrup and salty soy sauce to the oil to make a mixture, but the videos with plain olive oil seem pretty conclusive!

This makes me think we need to construct (or buy) some really good, study and long lasting traps for both slugs and earwigs. Bought ones are mighty expensive for what they are, but glass jars just leave too much glass laying around the plot, waiting to be stepped on and smashed. Sturdy, sun stable plastic with a good lid.. maybe bought ones will be the best option in the end.