10th - 13th June

10^th June

I managed to get to the allotment to plant out the remaining squashes to find that slugs have had their wicked way with a number of the ones already planted. They’ve completely eaten 2 yellow courgettes, most a green one and a whole cucumber plant. Thankfully they either don’t like butternut squash or were too full after eating the other stuff, or perhaps the butternuts are big enough to look after themselves. I planted out what I had and gave a good sprinkling of pellets. I’m wondering if the weed suppressing membrane is helping the slugs. They live in the soil and so will come to the surface of an evening, meet the membrane and travel round underneath it in the absence of vegetation until they find a nice opening and fresh air and lo and behold, there’s a young juicy plant to eat! At least 8 sprout plants have also met the same fate as too have some cauliflowers. The calabrese however are progressing well. At home I asked my wife to get me some cheap beer from the supermarket when she goes tomorrow. Just in case you don’t know, beer traps are rather successful in catching slugs – I’d hate you to think I was desperate for cheap beer – or even expensive beer, despite how slugs might drive you to it.

12th June

In what may seem like a truly wino-like moment, I found myself on the allotment at 9am cracking open cans of Asda lager. I can honestly say though, it wasn’t for me. I dug 5 holes for plastic cups and filled them with the lager. I have sited them on the edge of a few sections underneath the membrane so that they can entice slugs to their deaths. Cue: maniacal laughter.

13^th June

After a day out with the family I planted out the cineraria and the ageratums into the borders.