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Western WA

darn slugs. I hate them. Anyways, a slug took a bite out of my main vine about 2ft from the new growth. It was only an 8th of an inch deep, and didnt go into the center of the vine. What do you think I should do. And do you think it will affect the growth of a pumpkin on that vine later on?
Antonio

7/6/2003 11:26:05 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Dust the cut with fungicide. It will make you feel better & it may prevent disease.

Try to keep the cut area dry until it has healed some.

Treat for slugs with a commercial preperation containing "metaldehyde". Sluggo is one brand I recall. Ortho makes one too.

Steve

7/6/2003 11:44:38 PM

Montoursville, PA

This sounds more like mice, chip munks, or voles. Burry a pan full of water for them to drink. This will also attract slugs away from the plant. Some say beer in the tray is good. I say what a waste of fine beer.

Just on general principle I bought two rabbit sized salt bisquets. They satisfy squirrels that chew on garden hoses to get the salts and sometimes the water.

Slug bait does work. I use Escar-Go from Gardens Alive. The garden center types are good too but introduce known undesirable chemicals to me.

7/7/2003 11:10:14 AM

Western WA

thanks for the help. I sprayed with fungicide, buried the vine, and put a nice tray of water about 10ft from the plant. lol why waste beer on slugs.

7/7/2003 11:34:58 AM

Manchester, N.h.

What are "voles"??? I hope I never get them they sound awful. LOL

7/16/2003 9:43:27 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Shrews, Moles, Voles, etc... all pretty similar. Look like blind mice with short tails. Borrow under ground & uproot turf & plants feeding on worms & grubs mostly. But some do sample vegetable matter when isects are slim like now. Grubs have now mostly matured into beetles & warmer drier weather sends the worms deeper down. So apparently at this time of year it is not unheard of to find them nibbling on other food sources.

7/16/2003 9:48:15 PM