Lupins and delphiniums

But aren't they absolute slug magnets? - as I've frequently boasted, we seemed to have very little slug problem in this new garden of ours - I might have to eat my words - last summer I bought a lovely dark blue delphinium plant which flowered well.  This week its little shoots began to peek through the soil and I surrounded it with a layer of very gritty sand to keep the little rascals away and all seemed well until the other day when I discovered that a little grey slug had climbed the stem of a nearby plant and weighed it down so that it formed a bridge over the grit and it could reach the delphinium and chomp its way through all the new shoots 

It's been firmly squidged and the gritty sand has been extended - but what's the betting it had friends .... 

Maybe you should get a bouncer on the door bunny...

If you scatter wildlife friendly slug pellets around susceptible plants at regular intervals from St Valentine's Day you'll get the slugs as they emerge from hibernation or hatch from eggs as spring advances and they'll be dead before they've had time to chomp or breed.  

don't do blanket sprinkling.  Some slugs are essential for breaking down rotting matter but this way you get the perishers that eat your terasures.  

Have been trying for many, many years to grow both.  Every time I try again, they last one summer only. I have put it down to my heavy clay earth.  Any suggestions please.

I can't get lupins to grow either and am told they need light, well drained soil so i'm going to have one last go and will put them in a well drained bed behind a 2' retaining wall and see if that works.  

Oh well Obelixx, I will admit defeat.  Light isn't a problem, but well drained soil is non-existent.  Suppose I could try pots! Thanks for response.

Nice in some large well drained pots, dont forget the supports though.

My soil is full of clay but my Lupins have done great for the past couple of years. I grew them from seed and waited till they were quite big and really hardened off before I put them out though. I do get slugs just leke everyone else but to date...touch wood.....ive not lost a plant to them although they have a good chew. Ive actually just posted a pic of my lupins on another feed, such pretty plants

Well done vonney

I always cheat and buy mine at a decent size. Afraid I'm lazy and not into seeds.  GC's love me!  Will try pots and, thanks Brumbell, will remember the stakes!