Snails/slugs have eaten my hop plant leaves what do I do?

[Neale]

I've never grown hops before but thought I'd give it a go. So in Early February I planted one rhizome of cascade and one centennial. They started growing after around 1 week with two shoots from the Centennial and one from the Cascade. After 8 weeks I had the these .

Cascade

and Centennial

But a few week ago I noticed something had been eating the cascade leaves. I tried putting down coffee grounds and tea, (apparently snails dont like either of them), which maybe helped a bit, but I came out a few days ago to discover this.

As you can see I have now put down wool around the bottom of the plants as of yesterday because again its supposed to stop the snails. And I have removed the string as I assume they where climbing up it to get their supper.

I guess my question is, is there anything I can/should do to the cascade plant to give it a chance of survival? whether thats to cut it back, just leave it, give it plant food? It looks like there might be some growth were the original leaves where so I've got some hope that it might survive. The bottom leaves of the Centennial have also been eaten but it has still got a few leaves at the top so I'm hoping it will be ok.

 

[Clint]

With it being a rhizome it should just grow back.

 

[Neale]

Thanks thats good news hopefully. I've just bought some copper sheet to put a ring around each plant so hopefully with all the apparent deterants and a bit of sun my plants will spring back into life

 

[Clint]

I'd shift any rocks,big stones,debris etc from near the plant if you can as slugs like places to hide. Although it's been wet,when the weather improves and you may need to water your plants do it at the warmer part of the day as it'll give the surface time to dry out before the slugs come out to play. You can also put some slug traps down,buried jar with a bit of beer and keep trying the non chemical methods. Once your plant becomes strong it'll be ok.

 

[MashBag]

Slug pellets? But are you sure they are the cause.?

 

[Nucbrewer]

I would be surprised if they eat those spiky leaves. Pigeons peck at anything green on the allotment

 

[Cheyne_brewer]

One of our dogs has taken the growing tip & leaves off mine

 

[jeremy Hall]

I use the dregs of the fermentator in beer traps. Plus any testers or the occasional beer which doesn't taste right. I have ten traps around various vulnerable plants. Works a treat.