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Plant hardy vegetables like broad beans and onions in March-April. Tender crops like tomatoes and courgettes should wait until after the last frost in May. Use a heated greenhouse or cold frame to extend the growing season.

Create beer traps, use copper tape around pots, and encourage natural predators like hedgehogs and birds. Coffee grounds and crushed eggshells also act as natural deterrents. Check plants in the evening when slugs are most active.

Use a compact tumbler composter or wormery for small spaces. Mix green materials (kitchen scraps, grass clippings) with brown materials (dry leaves, cardboard). Turn regularly and keep moist but not waterlogged.

Select plants that thrive in heavy clay like roses, delphiniums, and hellebores. Improve drainage by adding organic matter and creating raised beds. Avoid walking on clay soil when wet to prevent compaction.

Wrap tender plants in horticultural fleece or bubble wrap. Move containers to sheltered spots and raise pots off the ground to prevent waterlogging. Mulch around plant bases with straw or bark chips.

Create a simple irrigation system using plastic bottles with small holes. Bury bottles next to plants and fill with water. For containers, use cotton string wicks from a water reservoir to keep plants hydrated while away.

Use clean eggshells as biodegradable seed pots. Make drainage holes, fill with compost, and plant seeds. When ready to transplant, gently crack the shell and plant directly - the shell provides calcium as it decomposes.

Lay thick layers of newspaper around plants before mulching to suppress weeds. The newspaper blocks light while allowing water through, and eventually decomposes. Much cheaper than landscape fabric and equally effective.

Cut the bottom off large milk jugs and place over seedlings as mini cloches. Remove the cap for ventilation on warm days. This protects young plants from frost and wind while creating a warm microclimate.

Place coffee filters over drainage holes in pots to prevent soil loss while maintaining drainage. This keeps the soil in while allowing excess water to escape, and the filters eventually decompose naturally.