Many vegetable plants have exactly the sort of soft, succulent leaves that slugs and snails love to eat as much as we do. It’s no surprise that leafy greens like lettuce and most of the cabbage family are some of the first things to be eaten and will continue to be a problem even when they’ve grown to full size. There are vegetables that don’t attract slug damage, though, and there are some that will avoid or shrug off damage if you can grow them larger before planting, or if you nurse them through the early stages of growth, protecting them till they’re larger and less vulnerable.
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17 vegetables that slugs won't munch
Artichokes
Globe artichokes are perennials so are easier to grow than a lot of veg, plus they’re untroubled by slugs and snails once established. They grow up to 1.5m tall and wide and the buds of mature plants are picked when orange-sized. Buy plants and plant them out from spring to early summer in a warm, sunny spot in well-drained soil. ‘Gros Vert de Laon’ (AGM) is hardy while ‘Purple Globe’ might need some frost protection.
Beetroot
This earthy vegetable isn’t the first choice for slugs, so sowing seeds directly in the ground is usually safe to do. In a year as bad as this one, though, it’s best to start seeds off in modules and transplant larger plants. The classic ‘Boltardy’ (AGM) is a good choice, as is ‘Red Ace’ (AGM) while ‘Chioggia’ has concentric rings that look pretty in salads. Beetroot needs full sun and crumbly, well-drained soil.
Celery
Long dismissed as a vegetable that takes more energy to chew than it provides, celery actually has many health benefits. Sow seeds under cover, somewhere warm, in spring and grow plants on in 9cm pots until well developed before planting out after the last frosts. Small plants might attract slugs but are much less susceptible to damage when larger. Plant in rich, damp soil in sun. Try ‘Loretta’ (AGM) or ‘Celebrity’, both self-blanching varieties.
Celeriac
Closely related to celery, celeriac forms a large, often knobbly, edible base. As with celery, mature plants are usually left alone by slugs and snails. Sow seeds under cover, somewhere warm, in early spring and plant, in sun or light shade, after the last frost. Grow in rich soil and water well in dry spells. Varieties such as ‘Ibis’ (AGM) and ‘Brilliant’ (AGM) have smooth skin which makes preparation easier.
Chard
As with its relative, beetroot, it’s rare to lose whole chard plants to molluscs, though they might eat young leaves or the outer leaves of mature plants. Chard is hardy and seeds can be sown into the soil but it’s easier to grow plants in 9cm pots before planting out in spring. Choose a sunny spot with rich soil that holds moisture. ‘Fordhook Giant’ (AGM) is vigorous and ‘Bright Lights’ (AGM) is tasty and colourful.
Early potatoes
Potato tubers and, in bad years, even leaves are often eaten by slugs. Early potatoes, however, planted in March and harvested in June can avoid damage as they are planted and dug up before slugs become fully active. Plant seed potatoes under the cover of a cloche or in containers in a greenhouse. Earth up the foliage if frost is forecast. ‘Jazzy’ (AGM) is good for containers and ‘Red Duke of York’ (AGM) good in the ground.
Endive
Young endive plants and those covered for blanching (keeping leaves pale and milder tasting) are likely to be a target for slugs while mature, unblanched plants don’t attract them but might taste bitter; the amount of bitterness depends on the variety. There are varieties suited for summer harvests, like ‘Frenzy’ (AGM) and winter harvests, such as ‘Natascha (AGM), so sowing times vary accordingly. Endive likes sun and will grow in any soil that isn’t very dry or waterlogged.
Garlic
Spraying a mix of water and garlic onto plant leaves is often said to deter slug and snails as they don’t like the taste. That might not be foolproof, but it explains why garlic bulbs are rarely slug damaged. Softneck varieties planted in autumn are easiest to grow and store well. You can also plant them in spring. Try ‘Cristo’ (AGM) or ‘Solent White’ (AGM). Plant cloves in sun and well-drained soil.
Herbs
Some of the softer herbs such as Florence fennel, dill, basil, and coriander might attract slugs and snails when young so should be grown in containers or, if in the ground, will need vigilance until they’re mature, but many herbs are too strongly flavoured or tough to be tackled by molluscs. Rosemary, mint, leaf fennel, parsley, marjoram, thyme, tarragon and sage grow well without problems. All herbs like sun and need soil which drains well to thrive.
Jerusalem artichokes
Related to sunflowers, these small edible tubers, planted in spring, grow tall and have yellow flowers before being harvested in late autumn. They can attract slugs and snails when new leaves emerge from any tubers left in the ground, but they’re very vigorous and normally manage to grow to maturity. They’re not fussy about soil type if its well-drained and will grow in sun or light shade. Any tubers left in the ground will re-grow next spring.
Lambs lettuce
If lettuce is tricky to keep slug free, lambs lettuce could be the answer. It’s not really a lettuce at all, though, and is often grown as a winter and spring crop although it also grows in summer. Sow seeds of varieties such as ‘Favor’ directly into soil or in pots in a greenhouse between spring and autumn. Plants need fertile, moist soil in sun or part shade and can be harvested almost all year round.
Leeks
Leek seeds can be sown directly in the soil but to avoid slugs are best sown into modules or 9cm pots in spring and planted out in a sunny spot in well-drained soil when around 15-20cm tall and pencil thick. Keep them well watered as they grow. In many areas leeks should be grown under insect-proof mesh to avoid allium leaf miner and leek moth. ‘Malabar’ and ‘Krypton’ (AGM) are good varieties.
Peas
While beans tend to be popular target for slugs and snails at all stages, peas are much less likely to be damaged once they get past seedling stage. Sow them into 9cm pots or lengths of guttering and plant out when they’ve put on good growth to minimise problems. If you like mangetout, try ‘Oregon Sugar Pod’, or for podded peas try ‘Jaguar’ (AGM). Sow in batches and plant in rich, well-drained soil in sun.
Radicchio
Radicchio is a type of chicory and, like endive, has a bitter flavour that’s unattractive to slugs and snails after the seedling stage. Also, the bitter outer leaves of the round, cabbage-like heads naturally blanch the inner leaves. Seeds of varieties like ‘Palla Rossa’ (AGM) can be sown in batches from April onwards. Plants like fertile, well-drained soil and sun, though can be grown in part shade in summer. Winter crops need protection from frost.
Squash
Squash plants can be prone to slug damage when small. However, they grow very vigorously once established and have bristly leaves and tough skins on their fruit which deter slugs. Some varieties ripen in summer, some in winter and there are many different shapes, sizes and types. Sow seeds in spring in a warm place, plant out after the last frost in a sunny spot in well-drained, fertile soil, and give them room to grow.
Sweetcorn
Sweetcorn is a great vegetable to grow because freshly picked cobs taste delicious and slugs rarely bother with the grass-like leaves. Sow seeds in late spring in a warm place and plant out after the last frost, in blocks, in an open sunny site with well-drained soil. Plants need some protection from strong winds but good airflow to aid pollination. ‘Moonshine’ is a tasty supersweet variety and ‘Swift’ (AGM) a good tendersweet variety.
Tomatoes
Always popular with veg growers, tomato plants don’t attract slugs at all. Ripening fruit might get eaten, but usually only a few fruit near the ground are damaged. If growing tomatoes outside, blight resistant varieties are the best choice, such as ‘Oh Happy Day’ or ‘Goldwin Golden Cocktail’, but if you have a greenhouse the choice is far wider, try ‘Suncherry Premium’ (AGM) or beefsteak ‘Gigantomo’ (AGM). Plants need full sun and regular watering and feeding.