using insecticide on young plants

[loulou71]

I'm fairly new to gardening (but try my best!).

I've put a lot of effort into growing young plants from seed (peppers, toms and courgette) and was disappointed to find that the courgettes (despite surrounding them with ash - as i didn't want to use chemicals) have been attacked by slugs and 'something' has eaten the leaves on the toms (the pots are off the ground and no sign of slugs or any insect).

I think rather than lose the lot, I'm going to have to  use some insecticide - I'll look for a 'bio' one though - but can anyone advise whether it's okay to spray very young plants?

Thank you

[Patf]

How frustrating, when you've nurtured them from seed. It does sound like the work of slugs as there's nothing they like better than young tender leaves. They could get to plants in pots too. I would start with slug pellets as I find these work well, may need to be renewed if the weather is wet. I'm not an expert but I wouldn't use insecticide on vegetables, ever. If it was insects I think there would be signs of them on the plants. Pat.

[chris pp]

If you are starting them in pots, get a plastic table and stand the feet in bowls of water, slugs and snails can no longer gain access to the table or your plants - it's easy.[:D]

and it saves lives, hedgehogs and so on.

Chris

[Pierre ZFP]

You can put a turn or two of copper wire around the outside of your pots.  Apparently it causes a small electrical potential which slug/snails can't cross

[andyh4]

It doesn't work Pierre.

I've seen the video of the slugs and snails climbing up a 3 cm high ring of copper sheet to get to the tasty morsels inside.

[Pierre ZFP]

Really? I saw someone post here that it was effective so I was going to try it.  Ah well, the leg is dishes of water looks promising

Edit:  I found the post I was thinking of HERE

[Patf]

I posted above about using slug pellets and now realise that they are nearly as bad as insecticides. They probably don't affect the vegetables but are harmful to other creatures if eaten. Chris mentioned hedgehogs. Seems that you can't win. Pat.