Crushed egg shells?

[gardengalrn]

I read somewhere (in the distant past) that crushed egg shells spread around plants would deter snails, as they cut the soft body. I'm collecting egg shells with that purpose in mind and figure it can't hurt anything. Snails don't bother me a great deal but they do like to get on my cabbages and a few select other things lower to the ground. I'm starting a new strawberry patch, too. Has anyone tried this and had success?

[kimpossible]

Yes, it works. The other use for crushed egg shells is add a tablespoon or so to the planting hole for tomato seedlings - calcium does them good.

[MsCowpea]

What's great about the internet is you get thoroughly confused with a bunch of conflicting information.

Here's my contribution to that goal concerning eggshells:

I have a book THE TRUTH ABOUT GARDEN REMEDIES-WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN"T AND WHY by Jeff Gillman.
(associate professor in Depart. of Hort. Science)

He tested the theory and thought they though they inhibited movement they weren't really all that good at repelling the slugs. If you did use them he thought you would need a "dozen eggs to create a 1/4 inch deep ring that is 2 inches wide around a small plant."

He did like garden grade diatomaceous earth though for rebelling the slugs. He said they hated crossing it. But I am not sure what happens to this once it rains.

He did another experiment with eggshells and said this old-timey remedy did have value. IE Crushing 4 or 5 eggshells and mixing with soil per plant. Especially as you were just throwing them away anyway--why not use them?

[robin303]

I read and saw pictures of snails moving down razor blades. They did it with ease. I use my fireplace ashes [wood] around the plants and snails and slugs don't like them at all. Eggs shells are great for adding calcium to the soil but it takes almost 6 months to break down.

[velikipop]

In the slug infested PNW I have tried almost everything with very little success. Egg shells and even oyster shells, which are plentiful and cheap, did very little to blunt the attacks. The only thing that works for sure is slug bait or searching for the critters by hand and destroying them. To minimize their growth try to keep your beds free of weeds, grass, old logs or anything else where they might hide and procreate.

My mother put eggshells in a jar with water and used the water to soak her plants. They did very well.

Alex

[bryanccfshr]

I suggest and personally use Iron Phosphate, slug and snail baits. http://www.paghat.com/slugcontrol.html Throw the eggshells in the compost.

[gardengalrn]

Thanks for the advice. I've collected them for months now and have quite a supply. I may try just to see for myself.