Slug muggers,

Although it may be a bit too late for this year, here's an idea I'm
using to make the water in my butts last longer.

My runner beans are growing on a wigwam of six bamboos. Like many
gardeners I have lots of plastic flower pots so selected six of those
fairly tall ones, cut between the six drainage holes in their bases
and placed them over the bamboos and bean plants - bases uppermost of
course. Each pot I sank about an inch into the ground. Water to the
plants is now confined to the diameter of the pots but its evaporation
is limited and the water soaks outwards anyway. A sprinkling of slug
killer (the aluminum sulphate one - keep away from ponds) and so far I
have no problems.

One more thing, another flower pot with its base cut out between the
drainage holes holds the bamboos together at the wigwam's top - I
always put the bamboos vertically into the ground.

Regards

Geoff