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Hi After reading the comments on hoops I thought you may want to look at the 20mm Blue MDPE poly pipe which is approx £0.58p or meter ( on eBay with next day delivery)and is a lot easier to cut and form the arc for various size plot cloches. I have used it a lot and found you can also make a decent fruit cage canopy from the cloche hoops by adding them to 5ft or 6ft bamboo canes which you push into the inner hole ( like a sleeve) and if you want to widen the arc add two cloche hoops together using a short cut bamboo and use as a joint.
After only a brief experience earlier this year with slug gone pellets in a poly tunnel I decided after my last post on this forum to set up a trial with slug gone pellets around my raised beds of potatoes. The 1.2m x1.2m beds were overhanging and inviting the molluscs to venture up and into the Forrest of rather green potato leaf , so I erected four canes inside each of the two square perimeters and duly tied back the potato stalks – it actually resembled some strange horticultural bed of flowering plants! Any way after this feat I poured a 5 inch perimeter of slug gone pellets on the compost soil and watered in to make the wool expand. After dark came last night I stalked into the bed area and to my astonishment found three slugs two of which had used the same passage as the third one was now using as he ( or she ) was stretched accros the top of the plastic bed wall and approx three inches into the bed was a succulent leaf which I had not tied back enough. I disposed of the culprits and now think that the slug pellets really do work in stopping the slug in its tracks but you may have to look out for the odd gymnastic slug that will outsmart the pellets!
I have a great photo of this which I’m posting on my Facebook page!
All in all I’m pleased with the results so far in my two experiences.I will keep you informed of any further developments.
I have used slug gone pellets in a polytunnel this year in march where we were getting a lot of our organic early salad leaf seedlings attacked with the preverbial molluscs. After planting 8 rows ( drills) 8 ft long and 10inch appart then literally sowing a line of the pellets 2inch wide on the surface between rows,after three weeks of keeping an eye on the plantings it seems they kept well away from any of the crop.
Charles will undoubtedly say the seedlings should be in modules at this time of year before planting out so as not to give the slugs an easy picking! Any way in my opinion these organic pellets , which also contain good soil nutrients when they break down ( approx 6 weeks) after watering and soil displacement are a much more ecological deterrent but you need to weigh up the cost.
For any other info on Slug gone experience speak to Gerald Miles 07879 664703 who has been organic growing for 8 years in Pembrokeshire.