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Spring is on the way! 20:15 - Feb 22 with 4032 viewsDubtractor

Forget storm Doris, I've just seen 2 frogs, 4 toads, and a newt in the garden.

I get really happy at the prospect of spring and will take any encouragement that it is incoming.

I was born underwater, I dried out in the sun. I started humping volcanoes baby, when I was too young.
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Spring is on the way! on 08:32 - Feb 23 with 1657 viewsGlasgowBlue

Spring? I spear to have woken up on the set of Fortitude.

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Spring is on the way! on 08:35 - Feb 23 with 1651 viewsgerard1947

Spring is on the way! on 00:17 - Feb 23 by jeera

I sound sanctimonious anyway. Fair enough.

I tell what I did find useful against slugs et al when growing in tubs was to base them on some mix of shingle and sharp sand. They don't like the surface much.

Just saying. Bouncing ideas kinda thing.


What is good is copper tape. Slugs and snails won't cross it, their slime and the tape gives them a slight electric shock. They don't cross it.
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Spring is on the way! on 08:36 - Feb 23 with 1647 viewsBluebell

Spring is on the way! on 23:37 - Feb 22 by jeera

No I wont use chemicals either.

Especially after a chat we had a couple of years or so back on the matter.

But I've also been out there with yellow sheets of card and Vaseline, and, looking ridiculous aside, it didn't even bloody work!


Just wondering what the Vaseline is for?

The problem I have in my garden is squirrels. I have several of them come every day and, although I love watching them, the little bugg*rs insist on digging up my bulbs and plants.

A lot of my plants grow in tubs round the patio and the squirrels dig them up to plant the seeds and nuts I put out for the birds.

The enjoyment of watching them and their antics far outweighs the annoyance I feel when I find dead plants on the ground. They are amazing creatures. They nest in the oak tree next to my garden and when they bring their babies in the summer I spend hours watching them.
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Spring is on the way! on 08:46 - Feb 23 with 1630 viewsBanksterDebtSlave

Spring is on the way! on 08:36 - Feb 23 by Bluebell

Just wondering what the Vaseline is for?

The problem I have in my garden is squirrels. I have several of them come every day and, although I love watching them, the little bugg*rs insist on digging up my bulbs and plants.

A lot of my plants grow in tubs round the patio and the squirrels dig them up to plant the seeds and nuts I put out for the birds.

The enjoyment of watching them and their antics far outweighs the annoyance I feel when I find dead plants on the ground. They are amazing creatures. They nest in the oak tree next to my garden and when they bring their babies in the summer I spend hours watching them.


They're rats with long tails ! I struggle to feel much love for them, think they eat young birds too ?!

"They break our legs and tell us to be grateful when they offer us crutches."
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Spring is on the way! on 09:02 - Feb 23 with 1606 viewsgerard1947

Spring is on the way! on 00:14 - Feb 23 by Melford

I don't get hedgehogs. My Garden is basically a big patio, everything is in tubs and it's pretty enclosed. I only used the pellets the once, I came down one night and there were 20 odd slugs I found slithering their way to plant-land so I went nuclear.


Slug pubs work well .. beer slops in the container attract the slugs, they drink it fall in die happy. I tend not to look at what I'm tipping away it ends up like slug soup.
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Spring is on the way! on 10:32 - Feb 23 with 1559 viewsDubtractor

Spring is on the way! on 09:02 - Feb 23 by gerard1947

Slug pubs work well .. beer slops in the container attract the slugs, they drink it fall in die happy. I tend not to look at what I'm tipping away it ends up like slug soup.


Yeah, that is a nasty slop isn't it!

I was born underwater, I dried out in the sun. I started humping volcanoes baby, when I was too young.
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Spring is on the way! on 11:04 - Feb 23 with 1527 viewsjeera

Spring is on the way! on 09:02 - Feb 23 by gerard1947

Slug pubs work well .. beer slops in the container attract the slugs, they drink it fall in die happy. I tend not to look at what I'm tipping away it ends up like slug soup.


Stinks to high hell.

My friend's dog drank from one before we could stop him.

I almost threw up.

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Spring is on the way! on 11:06 - Feb 23 with 1526 viewsjeera

Spring is on the way! on 08:16 - Feb 23 by GeoffSentence

Or get a duck. That way you can turn slugs into breakfast.


And ultimately Xmas dinner.

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Spring is on the way! on 11:07 - Feb 23 with 1525 viewsNo9

Yep & has been in our garden for a while now = birds have been shagging no end
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Spring is on the way! on 11:08 - Feb 23 with 1518 viewsjeera

Spring is on the way! on 08:35 - Feb 23 by gerard1947

What is good is copper tape. Slugs and snails won't cross it, their slime and the tape gives them a slight electric shock. They don't cross it.


That's the theory, but I've watched many a snail who clearly doesn't understand the rules.

The stuff with the zig zagged sides does more so. But I'm guessing that's more to do with the rough edge.

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Spring is on the way! on 11:15 - Feb 23 with 1506 viewsjeera

Spring is on the way! on 08:36 - Feb 23 by Bluebell

Just wondering what the Vaseline is for?

The problem I have in my garden is squirrels. I have several of them come every day and, although I love watching them, the little bugg*rs insist on digging up my bulbs and plants.

A lot of my plants grow in tubs round the patio and the squirrels dig them up to plant the seeds and nuts I put out for the birds.

The enjoyment of watching them and their antics far outweighs the annoyance I feel when I find dead plants on the ground. They are amazing creatures. They nest in the oak tree next to my garden and when they bring their babies in the summer I spend hours watching them.


"Just wondering what the Vaseline is for? "

It's to give them other ideas to keep them entertained and off my brassica. Bit of beetle porn on show to work them up a bit...

Not really.

You're supposed to smear it on the bright card, which is supposed to then attract them off the plants and catch them.

It's a lot of hassle to catch half a dozen when there's several hundred others taking no notice.

Edit: Don't think this would work with squirrels either.
[Post edited 23 Feb 2017 11:16]

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Spring is on the way! on 17:17 - Feb 23 with 1452 viewsRyorry

Spring is on the way! on 07:55 - Feb 23 by gerard1947

The stuff to get is scaffold net. It comes in various widths 1m - 4m and lengths up to 50m. I use it for brassicas, over my beans 'til they getting going and over my carrots buried round the edges to keep carrot fly out. It lasts for years, has a fine mesh that keeps out pretty much all of the bugs, birds, even mice if the edges are buried. It seems to keep in a bit of heat too so things grow better.
It's also pretty cheap to buy. I bought my first lot on eBay until I found the supplier was a couple of miles from where I live. I now get it direct.

I'm still eating sprouts, sprouting broccoli, parsnips, leeks, kale and carrots. I've got a 1/4 acre veggie plot so keep friends, family, neighbours going. Eary broad beans are up as is garlic. Leek seeds will be in the greenhouse this week.

What I do grow and sell are sunflowers. I've outlets at garages, village shops and garden centres. I use seeds intended for wild birds. A £1 pack grows all I need. If you try this make sure the seed is black, with husks.

Keeps me busy and fit!


What do you use to support the net with Gerard, specially bought poles/hoops, or do you fashion your own? (and does it all stay put in strong winds?!)

Like others, I don't/won't use chems, and in 2015 a lot of my veg got gobbled by slugs + voles I think. Bought one of those electro-pulse repeller things, worked a treat, the battery lasted whole of last growing season.

This year have also bought some wool-like stuff which is saturated with slow-release fertiliser, so it's supposed to do double job of slug killing (they shrivel up on the dry wool) & providing nutrients.
I was also once told that large quantities of broad bran, if you can keep it dry in some kind of casing, works well - they eat it & die from dehydration (not very nice :/ ).

Still got a few leeks from last summer on the go :)

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Spring is on the way! on 17:41 - Feb 23 with 1436 viewschicoazul

Spring is on the way! on 23:13 - Feb 22 by vapour_trail

My daffs opened today bluebell

#gardenofengland


Lots of crocuses here but no daff heads as yet
South west facing garden too, winning

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Spring is on the way! on 22:09 - Feb 23 with 1394 viewsgerard1947

Spring is on the way! on 17:17 - Feb 23 by Ryorry

What do you use to support the net with Gerard, specially bought poles/hoops, or do you fashion your own? (and does it all stay put in strong winds?!)

Like others, I don't/won't use chems, and in 2015 a lot of my veg got gobbled by slugs + voles I think. Bought one of those electro-pulse repeller things, worked a treat, the battery lasted whole of last growing season.

This year have also bought some wool-like stuff which is saturated with slow-release fertiliser, so it's supposed to do double job of slug killing (they shrivel up on the dry wool) & providing nutrients.
I was also once told that large quantities of broad bran, if you can keep it dry in some kind of casing, works well - they eat it & die from dehydration (not very nice :/ ).

Still got a few leeks from last summer on the go :)


What I use is underground water pipe. It is flexible, about an inch thick and comes on a roll. I bought a load at an auction. I was lucky got it for £10 there was about 70 metres on the roll. For greens I cut to length, stick a cane up each end and push into the ground. It makes a hoop, 4 or 5 in a row with 4m wide scaffold net over makes a pest proof tunnel. I tie a couple of long canes across the top to keep it rigid.

For carrots I thickly sow a couple of rows and lay a net over. I push it into the ground with a spade all the way round. I get no carrot fly.

I suffer badly with slugs, last year was bad because the winter was so mild. This year should be better there have many more frosts.

I don't use sprays other than organic. Garlic oil for pests, whitefly etc. Vinegar mixed with Fairy Liquid as a weed killer, this knocks it back but it comes back quickly. I also use a gas flame gun sometimes.

My veggie plot is 100 yards x 25 yards so I'm self sufficient for veg and fruit.

Talking of leeks I've still got about 500 left all from a 99p packet of seed. There about 1500 seeds in a pack. I'm ready to plant this years, I plant them in a couple of window boxes prick them out when pencil thick.

I've always bothered about the chemicals farmers use. Take potatoes, they are sprayed 2 or 3 times a week for blight and nearly as often pelleted for slugs. The spuds are treated after harvest to stop them sprouting. I'm sure they are safe but we munch away including the skins, there must be residues.
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Spring is on the way! on 22:15 - Feb 23 with 1383 viewsDubtractor

Spring is on the way! on 22:09 - Feb 23 by gerard1947

What I use is underground water pipe. It is flexible, about an inch thick and comes on a roll. I bought a load at an auction. I was lucky got it for £10 there was about 70 metres on the roll. For greens I cut to length, stick a cane up each end and push into the ground. It makes a hoop, 4 or 5 in a row with 4m wide scaffold net over makes a pest proof tunnel. I tie a couple of long canes across the top to keep it rigid.

For carrots I thickly sow a couple of rows and lay a net over. I push it into the ground with a spade all the way round. I get no carrot fly.

I suffer badly with slugs, last year was bad because the winter was so mild. This year should be better there have many more frosts.

I don't use sprays other than organic. Garlic oil for pests, whitefly etc. Vinegar mixed with Fairy Liquid as a weed killer, this knocks it back but it comes back quickly. I also use a gas flame gun sometimes.

My veggie plot is 100 yards x 25 yards so I'm self sufficient for veg and fruit.

Talking of leeks I've still got about 500 left all from a 99p packet of seed. There about 1500 seeds in a pack. I'm ready to plant this years, I plant them in a couple of window boxes prick them out when pencil thick.

I've always bothered about the chemicals farmers use. Take potatoes, they are sprayed 2 or 3 times a week for blight and nearly as often pelleted for slugs. The spuds are treated after harvest to stop them sprouting. I'm sure they are safe but we munch away including the skins, there must be residues.


The difference between home grown and "factory farmed" veg is huge. Especially for stuff like carrots and spuds.

I've only got a small veg patch really, but big enough to keep us in veg and salad all summer and some of autumn with top ups. Still got a few bulbs of garlic left from last year too.

I was born underwater, I dried out in the sun. I started humping volcanoes baby, when I was too young.
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Spring is on the way! on 22:25 - Feb 23 with 1366 viewsgerard1947

Spring is on the way! on 22:15 - Feb 23 by Dubtractor

The difference between home grown and "factory farmed" veg is huge. Especially for stuff like carrots and spuds.

I've only got a small veg patch really, but big enough to keep us in veg and salad all summer and some of autumn with top ups. Still got a few bulbs of garlic left from last year too.


New potatoes, new crop broad beans, baby new carrots, picked cooked and eaten within the hour does anything taste better?
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Spring is on the way! on 22:29 - Feb 23 with 1359 viewsVic

I noticed my first daffs opened today. Plus crocuses are out. Flowering current is trying hard to push open.

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Spring is on the way! on 23:28 - Feb 23 with 1333 viewsRyorry

Spring is on the way! on 22:25 - Feb 23 by gerard1947

New potatoes, new crop broad beans, baby new carrots, picked cooked and eaten within the hour does anything taste better?


Cheers for advice above re hoops/canes as framework, what a great idea!

My most loved "straight from" are runner beans - they never even make it into the kitchen, get picked & munched raw as I go on picking round the frame - just luscious - & of course no vits/mins lost at all.

The biggest difference in flavour, as opposed to just not wanting to eat chems on veg, are for me, organic cucumbers - absolutely gorgeous flavour, instead of the tastelessness of non-org ones. Have to buy them tho, don't have the growing conditions for them.

What I'm finding difficult to establish on the non-veg front are cowslips, a favourite flower from childhood. Seem to be equally loved by slugs & voles, & hard to protect. Only half of the plugs I bought last year have survived, & aren't exactly thriving. Wonder if they prefer semi-shade? as the ones weeded round don't seem to do as well as those shaded by long grass (which I guess mimics natural meadowland better).

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Spring is on the way! on 04:25 - Feb 24 with 1297 viewsBenters

Spring is on the way! on 08:46 - Feb 23 by BanksterDebtSlave

They're rats with long tails ! I struggle to feel much love for them, think they eat young birds too ?!


No they are Rats with bushy tails ..

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Spring is on the way! on 08:02 - Feb 24 with 1280 viewsgerard1947

Spring is on the way! on 23:28 - Feb 23 by Ryorry

Cheers for advice above re hoops/canes as framework, what a great idea!

My most loved "straight from" are runner beans - they never even make it into the kitchen, get picked & munched raw as I go on picking round the frame - just luscious - & of course no vits/mins lost at all.

The biggest difference in flavour, as opposed to just not wanting to eat chems on veg, are for me, organic cucumbers - absolutely gorgeous flavour, instead of the tastelessness of non-org ones. Have to buy them tho, don't have the growing conditions for them.

What I'm finding difficult to establish on the non-veg front are cowslips, a favourite flower from childhood. Seem to be equally loved by slugs & voles, & hard to protect. Only half of the plugs I bought last year have survived, & aren't exactly thriving. Wonder if they prefer semi-shade? as the ones weeded round don't seem to do as well as those shaded by long grass (which I guess mimics natural meadowland better).


If you have a builder friend ask if he has any plastic pipe off cuts.

Cucumbers, try Marketmore they do outdoor for me. I get all my seed from Premier Seeds, only on eBay, you will find them there. Such great value, 99p per pack, loads in a pack. Massive choice too including cowslips, I grow these in my orchard. The secret is putting the seed in the freezer over the winter. I would plant the seed in shady grassy bit that you are not going to mow too much. Cowslips are hit and miss til you get them established.
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Spring is on the way! on 08:23 - Feb 24 with 1270 viewsBanksterDebtSlave

Spring is on the way! on 04:25 - Feb 24 by Benters

No they are Rats with bushy tails ..


Fair point...I will resist the urge to edit !

"They break our legs and tell us to be grateful when they offer us crutches."
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Spring is on the way! on 08:24 - Feb 24 with 1266 viewsBenters

Spring is on the way! on 08:02 - Feb 24 by gerard1947

If you have a builder friend ask if he has any plastic pipe off cuts.

Cucumbers, try Marketmore they do outdoor for me. I get all my seed from Premier Seeds, only on eBay, you will find them there. Such great value, 99p per pack, loads in a pack. Massive choice too including cowslips, I grow these in my orchard. The secret is putting the seed in the freezer over the winter. I would plant the seed in shady grassy bit that you are not going to mow too much. Cowslips are hit and miss til you get them established.


I have bought a few plants from ebay .

My last were two Fatsia Japonica .

They came all the way from Ireland and cost me about £8 all in ! That was about 2 years ago and they have been great !

Gentlybentley
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Spring is on the way! on 09:08 - Feb 24 with 1244 viewsgerard1947

Spring is on the way! on 08:24 - Feb 24 by Benters

I have bought a few plants from ebay .

My last were two Fatsia Japonica .

They came all the way from Ireland and cost me about £8 all in ! That was about 2 years ago and they have been great !


Beans of all type, I keep my own seed. Onion sets I buy loose as I do seed potatoes. Everything else comes from Premier Seeds. I find pumpkins, squash etc. successful. I try to get the pumpkins really big and use Atlantic Giant. Plenty of muck and water you get pumpkins over 12 stone. I've still got one of last years in my garage. It's like slaughtering a steer, neighbours take slices whether they want to or not and live on soup and pumpkin pie for a week.
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Spring is on the way! on 09:11 - Feb 24 with 1242 viewsBluebell

Spring is on the way! on 04:25 - Feb 24 by Benters

No they are Rats with bushy tails ..


They might be rats with bushy tails but I love watching them. Just wish they would leave my plants alone.

I have noticed two blue tits going in and out of one of my boxes so I guess it is time for the birds to start building nests.

They are probably the same pair as last year which had two broods during the summer, 3 babies in one and 4 in the other.
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Spring is on the way! on 11:24 - Feb 24 with 1219 viewsRyorry

Spring is on the way! on 04:25 - Feb 24 by Benters

No they are Rats with bushy tails ..


Is it all squirrels you object to Benters, or do you support our native Red Squirrel and only object to the foreign grey kind? ;)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39072939

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