Slugs and Snails on Courgette (Zucchini)
How to identify and get rid of slugs and snails on Courgette (Zucchini). Size: 5–100mm depending on species.
Identifying slugs and snails on Courgette (Zucchini)
Irregular holes in leaves and, most damagingly, in young seedlings and developing fruit, with silvery slime trails visible nearby.
Life cycle
Hermaphroditic, laying clusters of translucent eggs in moist soil or under debris. Eggs hatch within a few weeks; most species live one to two years with overlapping generations.
Damage to Courgette (Zucchini)
Slugs and snails can destroy young courgette seedlings entirely and damage the soft skin of developing fruit resting on the soil.
How to treat slugs and snails on Courgette (Zucchini)
Hand-pick at night with a torch, use iron phosphate-based slug pellets, or set beer traps near vulnerable plants.
Preventing slugs and snails on Courgette (Zucchini)
Protect young seedlings with barriers, keep developing fruit off damp soil where possible, and clear debris where slugs shelter.