If they multiply quickly in spring, snails are real pests in the home garden. Fortunately, some plants are well armed in the fight against pests. Either their leaves have a bitter taste, or they have a specific smell that the snails find unpleasant. Some plants have a special protective mechanism - they have fuzzy leaves that the snails don't like at all. But which vegetables are snail-resistant? We list several types of crops.
The snails were originally brought to Northern Europe by the Romans. Nudibranchs were also transported with plants and are now widespread throughout Europe and are considered pests or invasive species. In natural gardens they have more predators, but in kitchen gardens they can become real pests.
Both thoseSnails and slugshave favorite plants and also plants they don't like. However, if there are no other food sources nearby, the reptiles will attack all plants.
1. Vegetables with a bitter aftertaste
Snails don't like the bitter aftertaste at all and try to avoid such plants. Artichokes, rhubarb, endives and chicory naturally have a bitter note and are generally not affected. Chard is also bitter and is therefore considered snail-resistant.
2. Vegetables with a strong smell deter snails
Chives, onions and garlic have one thing in common - a strong smell coupled with a pungent taste. Radishes also contain spicy mustard oils and therefore belong to this group. Snails and slugs therefore take a detour around the vegetables; even young plants are not affected. A good trick is therefore to plant onions around attractive vegetables.
By the way, the celery leaves also taste spicy and the plant is therefore also considered snail-resistant.
3. Plants with thick and fuzzy leaves
Plants that have large, thick or hard, fuzzy leaves are not interesting to snails. The young plants of these species are sometimes attacked, but the already established specimens - rarely. A good example of such plants are cucumbers and asparagus, which are left to grow at the end of the harvest season.
4. Rarely affected vegetables
The last group consists of vegetables that are only attacked if the snails or slugs cannot find another food source in the garden. Feeding damage to the nearest plants is a warning sign and indicates that the reptiles have multiplied in the garden and that preventative measures are not enough. In this case, the best thing to do is to attract the snails, collect them and relocate them.
Plants that are rarely affected include:
- Beetroot (sometimes susceptible)
- fennel
- Lamb's lettuce
- Spinach
Important preventive measures
There are several preventive measures that can permanently keep critters away from the kitchen garden. These include, among others:
1. Trees and bushes with thorns around themPlant a kitchen garden. Woody plants are not attacked by snails. However, they provide accommodation for small garden animals such as hedgehogs and nesting opportunities for birds, which are natural enemies of snails.
2. Plant slug-resistant and non-slug-resistant vegetables alternately. Herbs such as basil, lavender and chamomile are also perfect as gap fillers in the kitchen garden. They keep the critters away with their specific aroma.
3. Check vegetables regularly for signs of infestation and relocate snails and slugs regularly.
