Page 32 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2024

Letters & Poems
Dear Kelvin
I do not seem to remember ever having been plagued by slugs in the garden
as much as this year! To rub salt into
the wound, the RHS have launched a campaign to encourage us (gardeners) to “live with them”. So, my tirade on slugs is about to be off my chest. It was either that or politicians. So, be entertained.
They have destroyed a complete row of seeds sown in the soil, beetroot, another of spring onion, Spinach, two rows of carrot, NOT ONCE but twice! At first the cold weather was to blame, so I thought. No, it was slugs, after going outside late at night with Mrs Spree, we each had a torch and a bucket, gathered at least an inch of the offenders in the bottom, that is per night. We are still carrying out what has become a ritual slaughter of molluscs seven days a week, and still they came. On the occasion when the bag numbers dropped, I did wonder if it was having sight of Mrs Spree in her nightie and wellies keeping them off but no, the next night they returned. It was even suggested that if you wish to be rid of the curse toss the blighters over into the next-door neighbours. But wait, could they be doing it to us?
I refuse to use slug pellets as it is against my ethics as a sympathetic gardener. I have tried beer traps, they worked initially, I even trialled beer against lager, but then they wised up and avoided the traps,
I suppose the remaining molluscs are teetotal. Dropping salt onto them has a very good effect but can damage the plants. Eggshells? well, there are not enough eggs around this marching army to crush and put on the ground. Sheep wool pellets, NO they just march over them.
What did come to the rescue, and you will not believe it. THE PERIODIC TABLE! Cu... Copper, slugs hate the stuff. The reason is that between all substance occurs a potential difference, a voltage, if you are following me. The slug carries in
its under belly an electrolyte (slime, just
like in a car battery). So when MR and Mrs Mollusc traverse the copper, which can take many forms, bingo the electric current/ voltage travels from the soil, which is a different voltage to copper by some margin, the slug gets an electric shock. Thereby retreating away from the vegetables, and flowers.
I managed to find on the internet copper braid, 120mm wide and in 10M rolls, who cares about cost, its still cheaper than motorsport.
For the gardeners that came on the woodland walk to see the Bluebells with me, there were a lot of birds in the tree canopies sighted. It was impossible to identify them as they were too high up.
I was introduced to an App, called Merlin. It identifies birds from listening and using AI to list on your phone. Fantastic, I recommend it, as its also free. Birds found in Stockbury were found this week to
be, Wren, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Song thrush,
Copper Braid
Sandpiper. Pretty impressive. Sandpiper!! Until I found that my dog whistle was recognised as this coastal marshland bird.
Happy gardening.
Chris Spree
32 Simply Vegetables