Yikes!!!

I've not had as much problem with slugs in recent years as in the past, and this current drought has cut back even more on their population, but in the old rain soaked spring days of yore the slugs were a serious pest in my garden. As someone mentioned it was almost always the blooms that were eaten on the daylilies. I remember having a conversation back then with a hybridizer who was bragging about his new daylilies being nocturnal bloomers. I pointed out that since 99.9% of slugs come out after dark, having a new bloom unfurl during prime grazing hours was not a plus in my book. ....Slugs were no laughing matter for me and I tried just about everything on the market for years (only once or twice resorting to chemical controls as I didn't want any of my animal friends in contact with the poison). To cut to the chase, finally we imported some toads from my DH's work place after I read how they relished eating the slimy creatures. They loved slugs and long before the drought kicked in they had reduced the damage by over 70%. Also I learned that mulch may not be your friend if you are seriously fighting slugs. They love to hide under it and lay their eggs in it. Just a word to the wise.....Maryl

I have a good supply of ammonia ready for spring. Hoping to kill a lot of eggs before they get started. I would love to attract toads to the yard but have not figured out how. They do not like my yard and I never see any. I will do more reading and see what I can do, thanks for the tip!

We talked about the slugs last year on here somewhere if I can find it later (maybe Doris remembers). You can use your old coffee as a spray for slugs, I will have to find the thread and get the info.

I found the thread The thread "Organic daylily gardening" in Daylilies forum
It has the ammonia recipe and talks about other stuff.

Here us a link to "13 ways to stop your sluggies"
http://www.gardensalive.com/ar...
It talks about the coffee spray.
I've tried the beer, but it didn't work for me.

Yeah, the beer does not work that good. No slugs showed up at my beer party.

I like the coffee spray, it's simple, cheap and effective. You can kill 95% of large slugs with coffee that is 2% caffeine.

Last year I did almost all my watering at night. But I read that since the slugs come out at night you can decrease the population by 80% if you just water in the morning. That way the surface dirt will by dry by the time they come out. If they are thirsty you can just offer them some coffee.

I used to use Kool-aid or similar kids drinks instead of beer and had better luck. It's the sugars they are attracted to. Now I never had a huge slug problem just a small amount of munching on my hosta and only occassionally on my daylilies.

Here is a slug spray recipe that I found on another gardening forum that is safe to spray on the daylily foliage. I have not tried it, so I cannot attest to its effectiveness or lack of.

1 cup ammonia to 1 quart water (8 oz:32 oz)

Doris

I have never had a slug on any of my daylilies, but that's probably because I have an entire hosta buffet on the other side of the yard. I hate those nasty slugs, so I'll try the ammonia mixture and see if that helps. I used to put slug bait out, but now that our dog has decided that she can easily jump the rabbit fence, I can no longer use the bait. I sure hope this works!

The ammonia will kill the slugs and the eggs. Put it out early to kill eggs before they hatch. We were talking about it on the Hosta Forum and here under quick tips.

The thread "thank you" in Springtime Solution for Slug Problems Around Your Hostas

There is a lady from Canada and she said if you get out before the foliage emerges you can use 20% but you pour not spray. Pour it around the crowns. For daylilies you might be able to mix it stronger like Doris. But for the Hostas it was one part ammonia to 10 parts water.

Susan, interesting reading. Thank you.

"And the ammonia breaks down into the soil providing nitrogen for your Hostas.'' The daylilies will also like the extra nitrogen.

I have never used the ammonia spray. I think I would use it on some ditch lilies or insignificant daylilies first before spraying favorites or more costly ones.

Question: Would it be better to spray before dark or early in the morning?

Doris

Susan, thanks for that link!

Doris, I'd say that you need to do it when there is no breeze, or if there is, you need to stand upwind! Seriously though, I have no idea when to do it since I didn't know about it until you mentioned it above.

Michele, too funny about using your old coffee! I've never had any left over!

I don't actually spray it, I pour it around the crowns.

mcash70 said:I had one daylily they loved and ate it down to the ground in the spring.

The slugs I saw out there look more like , well I'll be polite and not finish that statement BUT they are ENORMOUS compared to the slugs here in Ontario. I've only seen the odd slug damage on a few flowers, usually ones in too much shade.

Now I need to ask a seemingly dumb question. I too bought a bunch of seeds ( psychotic acquisition actually and my hoarders episode airs next fall) from the LA and now I need to organize them and get them started probably in April. I'm starting in pots and need to know when is the best time to plant them out? I've planted out seedlings before in late June. They lived but haven't grown much and don't expect to see flowers this coming summer. I'm on the edge of zone 5b /6a. Any suggestions appreciated. Also there is a product out there that is a cell like seed starter with cells 1" in diameter but 5" deep, would something like this offer enough room for the seeds to get off to a decent start before planting out? Here is a link to one - http://www.veseys.com/ca/en/st...
Any thoughts?

Brian, they were talking about those and others on the 'ideas' forum. I usually just wintersow in milk jugs or something. As long as you don't sow them too soon they should sprout in spring and you can plant them out. No need to harden off. That is the most simple way to me.

http://www.wintersown.org/

Thanks Susan I'll check them out.

Brian, I'm in the same zone that you are in, and if it was me, I'd start them earlier if possible. Can you start them inside under lights? You'll get a bit of a head start that way. I started all of mine at the end of October and planted them outside at the end of May, and they grew super fast after they were in the ground. I haven't lost even one of them, and they are very healthy. The bad part is that out of about 100, I had none bloom the first year, and only had about 5 or 6 to bloom in the second year. I'm still waiting on the rest. They will be 3 years old this year, and I would expect all of them to bloom, but now I've got to move them out of state if I want to see them. They better be worth it!

Last year I started all of mine outside in pots in a shaded area after germinating in the fridge. When they looked strong enough, I put them in the ground. The last time I saw them before they were buried in snow 2 months ago, they were growing very well.

I'm looking forward to your episode of hoarders! I love that show! It makes me feel like I'm totally sane, and the cleanest person ever!

Susan, I'm really not sure if wintersowing will work with daylilies or not, in the colder zones. I sure wish it would because it would be so much easier that way, but I'm not aware of anyone in zone 5 or 6 who does that. I know that I've missed the seeds on lots of bee pods, and I've never had a seedling grow in my flower beds from seeds that have dropped. That's not to say that it won't work, but if you've spent a lot of the seeds, it would be something to be worried about!

Hopefully someone else who is much smarter than I am will chime in here about wintersowing in cold zones. I could be totally wrong! That wouldn't be a first, and I'm sure it won't be the last!

Brian,
This is what I did, I put them on wet paper towels then folded the paper towel up and put in a zip lock bag. Label the bag!! Then check every few days for germination. Then place the germinated seed in a 4 inch pot, cover lightly. Wet the soil first, I use HP soil.
Some of the seeds were spendy but cheeper than the parent daylilies. All of my sellers had the seeds in the frig. before sending. So the cold stratification was done. I have done this only once before with good results. I have never winter sowed but, will try this year but not with my daylily seeds.

I did not realize he was talking about daylily seeds. Sorry I hear direct sow would be the easiest and you do not need the set up with the lights and all. But I will not practice with my pricey seeds.
I put some into the refrigerator in a ziploc bag inside a wet paper-towel and nothing happened, it has been about a month. They are still sitting there and I think they are molding. I did not realize they are pre-chilled.
I am gathering information about the direct sow if anyone has any information that would be great. I think it is too late now. Oh well, back to the molded seeds. I will just wash them and dry them out...