Gardening Australia

I think I have snail radar… I went outside to check on the seedlings and caught a giant snail in the act of eating the most developed plant, with an equally large buddy nearby.

It was growing secondary leaves but the little bugger ate half of the biggest secondary leaf…

I yeeted both the snails (non-injuriously) over the neighbours fence. They have so much invasive couch grass that it’s crept in and completely taken over my yard… so the snails can bloody well go eat some of that. The smaller slugs I was unable to scoop up with a leaf as they hung on like barnacles, so the seedlings have a temporary improvised cover.

I just put an upturned plastic storage container over them all for now. I had some plastic bottles to turn into cloches but did not get around to it and don’t really have enough if all sprout.

A plastic tub is actually a good idea for a mini hothouse if large enough and clear including the lid… but there might be issues with ventilation/mould and legginess, and then I’d have to harden them off… it’s a whole thing. Also the storage tubs don’t tend to be uv resistant. However size permitting I’ll keep it in mind for really hot or cold temperatures. In a pinch it’s better than nothing.

I’d love to plant some other stuff like mini pumpkins, potatoes, tomatoes, beans… one or two even. But my space and money is limited and also my energy. Especially with container gardening - they’d have to be something large enough for the plant but a size I could safely lift if need be.

I think I’m also sowing a little late in the season already