Something's eating the primroses

[blackfingers]

I've got the wooden bucket at the front of the house.Last year I planted some winter pansies and primroses raised from seeds.When I had a look this week there's about half of primroses left.They just evaporate.I thought it's too cold for slugs.What could it be?Slugs or birds?:mad:

[Neil Bromhall]

The weather is warm enough now for the slugs to appear.
Can you see any signs of slime trails? If so it could be slugs or snails
Birds such as pigeons also peck at and eat blossom.
There's not much in the garden to eat so brightly colours petals are very attractive.

[blackfingers]

Thanks Neil but the primroses haven't flowered yet.No sign of any slug/snail trails.The case is it was very cold here with the temperature dropping in the night to -10 and quite a lot of snow that was lying for about a week.When it got milder the snow has disappeared along with the primroses.I had a look today and next plants ar gone

[sue1002]

Have the plants disappeared completely? it could be that they may have rotted or died off. Slugs are about in this garden, when I was doing some weeding last week I found lots of baby slugs hiding underneath long bits of grass.

[Paul Narramore]

The temperatures in barmy Kent are nowhere near as low as yours but it's not too cold for slugs here most of whom live underground (and protected) anyway. All of my Day Lilies have had the tips of their leaves chomped even though I vowed to get out there early with my slug pellets (sorry Miranda, I swore).:)

[blackfingers]

I don't think they rotted as you could see some remains.There's nothing left.I replaced all the compost in the bucket before planting about August/September.I was thinking if it's caused by birds maybe I should cover the bucket with clear bag but on the other hand I know slugs like primroses(like everything).I just don't know what to do.

[digger]

I think I know what is eating the plants. As you are living in the scottish highlands some reindeer will sneak in the night and eat everything they find.

[blackfingers]

Well,Digger,I'll let the reindeer eat the rest and then I'll eat the reindeer;)

[Paul Narramore]

Well slug pellets would certain solve that particular problem and you would find the 'corpse' on the surface of the compost so you know what to do next time. I've a Hippeastrum in a pot and ever since the first signs of a green shoot appeared above the compost, 'chomp!'. I was slow putting slug pellets on the compost and when I did, this tiny slug appeared. The bulb still appears fine and firm but I fear that's it for another year.