Plant Begonia tubers in a flat box in a mixture of potting compost and sand. Place the tubers in a 2-3 inch layer and keep them moist and moderate warm (60 -65 degrees), at a sunny location. This will enhance early sprouting and rooting of the tubers, harden the plants off by the end of April - early May and transplant the plants around second week of May into planters or the border. Be careful that a late night frost doesn't damage the tender plants. If night frost is expected, cover the plants for the night with an old newspaper. Begonia plants like a lot of water, feed them regularly with a summer plant fertiliser.

Slugs love Delphiniums and Hosta plants. A circle of sharp grit around new shoots in early spring will prevent slugs from doing their worst without doing harm to the environment.

Potted plants such as Hosta's can be kept safe from slugs by placing the pots in an oversized saucer which has to be kept filled with water. Slugs cannot swim and therefore stay away from the plant in the pot.