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vegetable plot and my newly planted squash plants were eaten over night. Now all I'm left with is a selection of decidedly miserable-looking stumps with a few scraps of leaf clinging on for dear life. Of course, the slugs are happy as can be. They're full

the lid off the frame if I leave them much longer.Their ample growth has caused some chuckles among the other plot holders, but I must confess to being rather proud to have grown mustards that could be entered in a giant vegetable contest. You can

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

-sized vegetable that could be seen from space. I wouldn't mind so much if marrows weren't so tasteless, but they're not a patch on sweet courgettes. After years of inadvertent marrow production, I've discovered a good Sophie Grigson marrow soup recipe,and marrow

outside in pots. My children found the tomatoes had too much skin for the quantity of flesh, but then they've become serious critics of the vegetable world in recent years. What struck me was that, while the plants did get blight, they got it much later

The sun is shining, I can't believe it, and I'm pretty sure my plants can't believe it either! The warmer soil and increased light intensity have made a massive difference to my garden. Only now, towards the end of September has my vegetable plot

to them to improve the compost.I'm considering collecting all my tea bags and vegetable peelings at home to put on the heap - I could easily add a fetching little compost crock to my Christmas list! And what about all the neighbours' compostable waste

.But the downside of the cold weather is that my compost heap has stopped decomposing. The pile of fruit and vegetable peelings and garden waste has shown little sign of decay in the last few weeks. The banana skins turn black very quickly, and the local badgers

beans and courgettes, which produce inedible, gargantuan produce at the earliest opportunity.I must grow more vegetables that are suitable for storing. Potatoes, butternut squashes, onions and shallots are great storers. They're no trouble to grow

themselves, and some salads and lovely rocket which seems to have sprouted virtually overnight. So I'm well set up for the barbecue season (and the autumnal stew season, too).My next big job — particular important with root vegetables — will be thinning