A very popular gardening myth claims that coarsely crushed eggshells are very sharp and that slugs would tear their bodies open trying to cross them. Therefore, by surrounding a plant susceptible to slug damage with a ring of eggshells, you can protect it, because no slug would dare try to cross such a barrier.
In reality, however, the slugs secrete “slime” (mucus) precisely to protect against cuts on rough surfaces. This slime is so efficient they can even cross shards of glass without any damage. Many studies have been made about slugs and eggshell barriers and the conclusion is clear: slugs will cross an eggshell barrier as if it weren’t there and without suffering any damage whatsoever.
Until recently, though, it was simply thought that eggshell barriers were not effective. But the situation is worse than that. Eggshells, unless thoroughly cleaned to remove the inner membrane and rinsed to get rid of any remaining albumin (egg white), give off an odor that will actually attract slugs! So “eggshell barriers” are not only ineffective, they actually make things worse.
I highly recommend you visit this website: www.allaboutslugs.com/eggshell-myth-busted/. It’s an excellent source of slug info. Here are some photos from the site I’ve used to illustrate the situation. I’ve added arrows to make things clearer.
PHOTO RADAR FOR SLUGS
Set-up: 2 lettuce leaves are placed on the ground at night.
After about an hour:
A first slug arrives at the egg shell “barrier” and starts to investigate.
About 45 minutes later:
Several slugs have located the leaf surrounded by shells and are starting to chow down. They have not yet found the unprotected leaf.
The next morning
The “protected” leaf has entirely disappeared. The leaf not surrounded by shells is in better shape, but has also suffered damage.
Why Do Gardeners Still Believe This?
The information above is not new: experts have been telling gardeners for decades that eggshell barriers don’t protect plants, but gardeners seem to prefer believing in myths rather than facing reality.
Here’s my warning for gardeners everywhere: just because “everyone says it’s true” doesn’t mean it really is true! If in doubt about a gardening technique, check with a reputable authority to make sure it really is effective.
Article originally published on July 14, 2015.
Fascinating! My new Hobby is “Myth Busting”! I wrote an article a couple of days ago titled “Charlie Chaplin Self Love Poem and The Subtle Art of Myth-Busting”. I also wrote about the “Carrot Myth” a few weeks ago Information and Disinformation – How Carrots helped win world war II. Check it out! http://www.authorjoannereed.net
I just loved the carrot myth. Some day I may steal your idea for my blog! Keep up the good work! There are lots of myths in the gardening world, plus in other fields, so you won’t lack for subjects.
Feel free to re-post my ‘Carrot ?Myth blog/article’ your readers may find it intetesting/entertaining. Never under estimate the power/myth of a carrot?.
I’ll likely do that, thanks for offering. I’ll let you know when it comes out.
Oh, those pictures are funny.
The native banana slugs are not only harmless to viable plant parts, but their poop is supposedly very beneficial. They come in to eat some of the decomposing litter from the trees above, and fertilize the area in the process. They are rather . . . . creepy when they get in the way, and don’t move out of the way fast enough, but that is the worst of it. Tourists take selfies with them. A banana slug it the mascot of UC Santa Cruz!
I’m not sure I’d want a slug as a mascot!
No . . . but that is Santa Cruz.