Snails like to attack our beds, but they don't like everything. They avoid some vegetables and may even protect other plants.
As soon as the first seedlings sprout, every gardener is filled with pride. At the same time, a queasy feeling spreads, because the tender young plants are susceptible to pests. Snails in the bed often cause a great fright. Because they like to eat tender plants. It is primarily slugs that devour the vegetation. We now describe which vegetables snails do not eat.
Garlic against snails?
The garlic plant (Allium sativum), like the related onion (Allium cepa), is resistant to snail damage. The intense smell deters the slimy companions so much that sometimes even tasty neighboring plants are left alone. Garlic against snails is therefore extremely helpful.
Do snails eat tomatoes?
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are occasionally eaten by slugs, primarily slugs. Young plants are particularly affected and fruits are also partially hollowed out by them. Ground creeping or bushy plants are more at risk because they are in close proximity to the snails. Larger, he althy plants are often avoided. The reason for this are small hairs on the green parts of the plant, the so-called trichomes. They release substances that are unpopular with various potential pests. In addition, a high solanine content in unripe fruits, which all nightshade plants (Solanaceae) have in common, protects them from being eaten. Many modern tomato varieties produce fewer antibodies. The choice of variety also influences how readily certain tomatoes are eaten by snails.
Do snails like cucumbers?
Young cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus) are of interest to slugs, but older plants with defensive, prickly trichomes are rarely eaten. At the latest when juicy fruits have formed, large cucumber plants are also endangered again. Snails gnaw on the water-rich fruitsnamely gladly. If a cucumber plant grows in a creeping manner and therefore lies flat on the ground, the risk of a snail infestation is higher. It is therefore advisable to let the cucumber plants climb upwards.
Do snails eat kohlrabi?
Yes, slugs eat kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes). If you nibble on the tuber when it is young, large holes appear. It is particularly problematic if the vegetation point - also known colloquially as the heart - is damaged. Then it may be that no kohlrabi bulb forms at all, but only leaves grow. The kohlrabi therefore needs good snail protection in the young plant stage. Slugs even find the leaves appetizing, especially with young plants.
Tip: In order to protect kohlrabi and other vegetables from slug damage, it is a good idea to spread our Plantura organic slug pellets.
Do snails like chard?
Chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) is avoided by snails. Not even the young plants are of interest.
Do snails eat celery?
Slugs only plastered celery as a young plant. From a height of about 20 cm, the risk of slugs eating celery decreases.
What other vegetables don't snails eat?
Plants containing tannin and bitter substances or plants with essential oils are generally unpopular with snails. These include the following vegetables:
- Artichokes (Cynara)
- Chicory (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum)
- Endive (Cichorium endivia)
- Peas (Pisum sativum) from 20 cm height
- Lambs Lettuce (Valerianella)
- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
- Garden onion (Allium cepa)
- Pumpkin (Cucurbita) from 20 cm height
- Leek (Allium porrum)
- Radicchio (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum)
- Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum)
- Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)
- Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
- And some more
The small animals also avoid a variety of flowers and herbs. You can read about what these are in our article on snail-resistant plants.
It's good to know which vegetables snails avoid. However, hardly any gardener would like to limit himself to plants that the small mollusks do not like. If snails appear in the bed, you can consult our article on fighting snails. Don't forget, however, that snails are beneficial animals. It is mainly slugs that attack our bed. You can find out how to keep them under control in the article on fighting and driving away slugs in the garden.