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After a slow start my runner beans are finally off and away and are producing a late but very welcome crop. At the start of the season I wondered if they were going to get past the first post (or up the first foot or so of cane actually). Slugs

overnight those buds have burst into the prettiest lemon-coloured blooms. I've left them for the moment as I don't need that bed until I put my beans in, which aren't yet big enough to survive the attentions of slugs. After last year's rain there seem

to slug damage when sown directly into the ground. So now, I have a huge number of brassicas to transplant: purple sprouting broccoli, two varieties of kale, Brussels sprouts, calabrese and Romanesco broccoli(which is, strictly speaking, a cauliflower

in the 'vegetable man' competition at our village show. In contrast, the second was about 4cm in diameter, entirely hollowed out, with no sign of the flesh at all, but plenty of slug damage.Why were all the larger tubers free of slug damage, and yet this tiny tuber

leaves but Pippa has also grown what is known as sugarloaf chicory, which had green leaves and a much looser habit. It was more like a lettuce than anything I was picturing in my head.All very vulnerable to slug attack and as this year has felt at times

from slugs and snails) and planted them out when they had a good clump of leaves. I always grow lettuces in a well-drained (and less slug-prone) bed close to my shed, so I can keep an eye on them.I tend to try a few new lettuce varieties each year

to germinate. Take your guess as to what had them - rot, rodents or slugs - but I think it was probably a hungry mouse. So, this year I started them in pots in a sheltered corner at home, planting them out once they were a few inches tall. It's more work

hens. Now, once again, we have plenty hens and plenty of eggs. The garden will soon benefit from larger quantities of well-rotted poultry manure and we should also see a decline in the numbers of slugs and snails.I expected the kids to be happy - I

of all.Other than a bit of slug damage (you didn't think I'd get off that easily did you?) the plants look very good. The fledgling sprouts are forming nicely and each top knot of leaves is lush and sturdy. It all bodes rather well for Christmas dinner

of the dahlia is a copper ring which, designed to deflect slugs and snails. The copper creates a sort of electrical frisson which makes the gastropods shy away and head for the hills.Imagine my distress this morning when I discover my dahlia de-nuded of most