A Gardener's Weather Diary: Snail Damage Even In dry Weather

Sunday 14 July 2019

Snail Damage Even In dry Weather

It’s now been three weeks since we’ve had any rainfall of note and the effects are starting to be seen on the allotment. Our total rainfall for July stands at 5.2mm (0.2in) set against a July average of 60mm or 2.4in. All our potatoes were looking really good as we moved into July thanks to a decent amount of rain in the early part of June especially. Now some of the haulms are taking on a yellowish appearance suggesting to me that they are running out of steam or more accurately water.

Temperature & Rainfall Data 14 June - 14 July 2019

I dug up a root of Casablanca early potatoes this week and the soil was very dry. We’ve been busy watering on the plot but I’m rather hoping that the potatoes will be okay as we concentrate on watering brassicas, beans, peas, squashes, carrots and parsnips.

Surprisingly, the dry weather doesn’t seem to have deterred the slugs and snails which have been munching their way through our plants at home and at the allotment.

We'd so much damage on a large hosta in a border in the garden that we decided to dig it out and replace it as the snail ravaged plant was spoiling the look of the whole border. The cut down hosta is in a large pot until we decide on its fate. In the photo above, the curious snail that emerged from the base of the hosta was wondering what had happened to its food source but didn't have long to worry about its fate.

I’m always a little bit worried that birds might get trapped in the netting that's meant to keep them from damaging crops. It's necessary to keep some net over our cold frame at home as the resident blackbirds enjoy rooting out seedlings as they search for any tempting morsels to eat. I've never thought about these nets trapping snails until today.

I've never wondered whether snails have a reverse gear. Obviously, its shell was never going to fit through the netting.

The slugs and snails have been busy at the allotment too munching their way through our courgettes.

I doubt whether this courgette will recover from loosing all its leaves along with parts of its stems.

They've also enjoyed devouring plenty of our runner and climbing French bean plants although, with a few warmer days and nights, our beans are starting to grow with a bit more haste and giving the impression that they are at least considering doing some climbing.

With no "proper" rain in the forecast for the next week only the possibility of a few showers, it looks like we are going to have to do more watering at the allotment and in the garden.