Hi All,

A while ago I was (well my beans were) suffering with slugs and I
finally resorted to pellets and beer (guess who had what) and we seem
to be ok again hic. I'm still on the lookout for some copper sheet /
strip and will try that later / next time.

The other day we (daughter and I) helped 'granny' put on a flower
stall at our (all three of us) old primary school fete. Most of the
stuff was her home grown, some was donated and she raised 50 quid for
the school. I ended up with some of the leftover donations in the form
of 4 tom plants (about 1'6" tall with baby toms already) and 6
'peppers' (red / green / yellow it says on the stick).

I've just put the toms in instead of the leaf stripped bean stalks and
for now(?), stuck the peppers in a large planter. They seem very
'floppy' (they look healthy enough just can't seem to stand on their
own) so wondered what I was supposed to do with them (sticks, nets
etc)?

I have also got some more beans (as advised by K a while back, blue
lagoon or summat g), started them off in one of those little
propagators and they all came up well. As soon as they reached the lid
I just took it off and now they are just growing as is. At what point
should I put them in the ground (replacing the other slug damaged
runners) please?

We also have some spring onions coming along. Same process, started in
a propagator (black plastic base, transparent top) and they seem to be
doing ok. I'm not sure if they are being 'thinned out' though .. would
birds eat them and if so what should I do?

Lastly, one of the smaller remaining runners has been converted into a
little smallholding by the local black ants re a nice little herd of
(black?) fly. I didn't want it near the new toms / beans so (partly as
an experiment) just re-located it the other side of the garden. Will
this be ok (will they just carry on out of the way) or should I have
disposed of the lot?

All the best and thanks for your time ..

T i m