TROUBLESHOOT YOUR VEGGIE GARDEN

There’s no such thing as a trouble-free vegetable garden. In my own plot, I deal with deer, rabbits, imported cabbage worms, powdery mildew and slugs. So many slugs! Yet, don’t despair. Experience has taught me that a few simple steps can reduce the occurrence of many common pests and diseases.

First, I try to grow crops and varieties that thrive in my zone 5 garden. I also practice crop rotation and space plants properly to minimize soil-borne diseases and ensure good air circulation. Feeding the soil helps plants fight off potential problems. And finally, I always include flowers and herbs in my vegetable beds to attract beneficial insects and pollinators.

But even with pre-emptive measures like these, there are still struggles. Here are some of the most common problems and what you can do about them.

Niki Jabbour is the author of four books on vegetable gardening and one of the experts at SavvyGardening.com.

SLUGS AND SNAILS

When my kids were little I used to pay them a nickel for each slug they collected. Now that they’re teenagers, they’re trying to negotiate for a dollar a slug. Fat chance given the sky-high number of slugs in my garden! Slugs and snails aren’t insects, but land-dwelling mollusks that travel through the garden on a trail of slime.

Slugs and snails tend to emerge at night or on