Caffeine versus slugs & snails

 So far, all my spent coffee grinds, have ended up in my
compostor ( I believe there was a thread on ukrg last
year).

After reading the following article, I'll separate the
coffee and use it as a spray next year, on the
allotment. It also mentions tea leaves as a good source
http://preview.tinyurl.com/34gjnw2

 
Bertie Doe;905684 Wrote:

(http://preview.tinyurl.com/34gjnw2 )

Ah thank you, I didn't know that myself. How very interesting, I have
been told
that salt helps, a friend of mine said that salt can get rid
of slugs however I
wouldn't like to try it out... I was also told you
could buy poisons for slugs
but if birds eat the slugs after it can make
them sick..

Anyway, this is very interesting. Who would have thought that slugs
would hate
coffee?




--
hollierose

 @gardenbanter.co.uk says...

Many years ago (50+!) I had an aunt who every evening used to go out
with a pot pf salt and a tea spoon and sprinke a little on any slug she
found. Not a pleasant sight, as the slugs sort of bubbled up as they
died, but were gone by the morning.

 On 22/11/2010 23:54, Bertie Doe wrote:

It is more effective just to spread the coffee grounds around sensitive
plants like hostas and delphiniums. Turning it into a spray isn't worth
the effort. Most things of plant origin that we consume as stimulants
and interesting tastes were intended for chemical warfare against plant
parasites or fungi. It is sheer good luck that they do us no harm.

Regards,
Martin Brown

 Thanks hollierose and Martin. What I should have
mentioned in the above post, is the fact that most
coffee shops are happy to donate their spent espresso
pucks and filter grounds. In fact Starbucks HQ in the
States, advertise the fact. I suggest you phone your
local coffee shop first and also bring along a couple
of s/mkt carrier bags.

As to doseage - I'm unsure. I'll go back to
alt.coffee-moderated later (where I first saw the above
link) and get their opinion. I will experiment in 2011
and post back. It would be great if the cabbage white
butterfly was allergic?? - fat chance!!!

Bertie