Advice required ref. cold frame

I am toying with the idea of a 2" layer of crushed oystershell as a base in the cold frame to stop slugs eating my plants will hardening off would this work with out any side effects.

 

The slugs will be in the levels of soil ABOVE your oystershell so it will have no or little effect. If you are going organic (and it seems you are)? I'de go for a boozy death and put out containers of beer (stale beer is better). Cheers, Tony.

 

No side effects unless you are growing lime hating plants.

Like the beer traps Klefti Nothing wrong with both.

 

I dont have stale beer
will lager do
Cant be using Bathems finest :o
Kleftiwallah you say the slugs will be in the soil above,I hope not they will be seedlings in fresh compost just in there for hardening off,you dont think slug eggs are in new fresh compost,:wallbang:

 

A bit of confusion on my part

Not quite worked out what's going on.

Are the plants growing in the soil with a top dressing of shell?

Or is there a top dressing of shell, and the plants will be in pots/trays etc.?
Just growing above the shell.

 

floor of cold frame might be shell and I will stand seed trays/pots on top of the shell.
Last year when I used it I had to fight pigeons off When the top was open and slugs anytime big fat yellow ones

 

If your just placing plants in pots on the shell I cant see there being any problem.
Any reason for oyster shell?

Sharp grit would probably have the same effect, on slugs, without the alkaline effect.

 

Lager works,

Apologies for bringing up the old tale, but I left a can of lager on the patio whilst indulging in a "tryst"

Afterwards, I went out in the dark to finish the can & have a smoke.

As I raised the can to my lips I gave a lovely french kiss to the 5 inch slug that had wrapped itself around the top of the can.:runhills:

 

i use beer traps with salt added to it for extra affect :D:D

 

The only reason I was thinking of oyster shell is I buy 20kg for £8.00 and 1 bag I have hanging around is to course for my hens,I could crush a bit at a time when needed,and I would need 3 bags for the frame.I havn't found a supplier local who does large bags of course grit and buy it in 5lb bags

 

Drat - You mean you don't need help emptying the shells first? Oh well, I've lost interest now!! Except to add that, finely crushed and actually mixed with soil, the shells would make it more alkaline, but since it's intended as a 'flooring', I don't see why you shouldn't use it.

 

You can buy 25Kg bags of coarse grit at most gardencentres around here.
Not sure of the price but less than a fiver.

 

To be honest never looked before but will have to look now,but one problem I dont do garden centers not for the last 10 yrs they seem to have gone over to the dark side and cater for the rich people,the sort that will pay £50 for a twig in a pot worth a fiver!!

 

.....and don't use your best beer/lager for slug bait - take a container (plastic milk bottle will do) with you to your local pub and ask the bar-person to fill it from the slops under the pumps. That's what I do and they are usually happy to oblige.

 

Yep, I know what you mean.
You could try builders merchants.

Most stock decorative gravel or grits and its usually cheaper than horticultural stuff.