First there was "Slugs versus Coffee Grounds",
then "Slugs versus Diatomaceous Earth",
and now "Slugs versus Egg Shells"!
In my previous experiments,
I found that both coffee grounds and diatomaceous earth help deter slugs,
at least when first applied to the soil.
Today I thought I'd put ground eggshells to the test.
As before, I conducted the experiment in a plastic bin under lights in my grow room.
. I filled the bottom of the bin with soil,
covered half the soil with ground egg shells,
and placed a piece of cardboard in the center.
The cardboard served as a neutral starting position for the slugs.
I then ran four consecutive 10 minute tests
to see how many times the slugs travelled over soil versus egg shells.
If a slug briefly moved over egg shells but turned back to the cardboard or soil,
I did not count it as a trip over egg shells.
I started test 1 with 8 slugs - 2 medium sized and 6 small.
Before I even finished placing the slugs on the cardboard,
one of the small ones took off into the soil.
Next, another one ventured into the egg shells.
The 2 larger slugs considered moving into the egg shells
but had second thoughts and turned back.
Then 3 more headed for the soil.
Finally, the last of the small slugs and one of the larger ones that turned back from the egg shells
sought refuge underneath the cardboard in the soil.
So, after test 1, we have 7 trips over soil and only 1 over egg shells.
I was only able to locate 5 out of the 8 slugs after test 1.
I put the slugs that travelled on the soil on the lower portion of the cardboard
and the one that travelled over eggshells on the upper portion.
. I wanted to keep an eye on him to see if his experience in the eggshells would keep him from moving in this test.
One of the small slugs led the way into the soil.
Here you can see one of the slugs I couldn't locate from the last test.
Next, one of the larger slugs headed into the followed by another small one.
Finally, the last 2 slugs headed into the soil.
So, all 5 slugs travelled through the soil,
bringing our total count to 12 over soil and 1 over eggshells.
For test 3, I was able to recover only 6 of the slugs.
After placing the slugs on the cardboard,
one of the little guys led the troops into the soil.
One of his larger comrades appeared to follow
but then briefly crossed the eggshells before going AWOL up the side of the bin.
Here a Large slug ventured into the soil with a little buddy riding piggyback.
The little guy eventually fell off.
One more slug travelled into the soil and one remained on the cardboard.
I won't count the AWOL slug or the one that hitched a ride,
and of course the one that stayed on the cardboard won't be counted.
So, for test 3, three of the slugs travelled over soil and none over eggshells.
That brings us to 15 trips over soil and 1 just 1 over eggshells.
It looks like we have a pattern!
I was able to recover only 4 slugs for test 4.
They were getting better and better at hiding out in the soil.
After placing the slugs on the cardboard,
one of the big boys led the way into the soil.
Next, a small one moved into soil.
Then one of the larger ones headed over the eggshells,
but just for long enough to escape up the side of the bin.
Finally, one of the little guys ventured into the soil.
We won't count the one slug that tried to escape.
Excluding him, there were 3 trips over soil and none over eggshells,
bringing our totals to 18 trips over soil and only 1 over eggshells.
So, it looks like ground eggshells are a pretty good slug deterrent.
We already sprinkle eggshells on our soil for the calcium
and the grit they provide our earthworms and red wigglers,
so it's great to know that they also deter those pesky slugs.
Well, that's all for now.
Thank you very much for watching,
and until next time remember
you can change the world one yard at a time.