h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Interesting stuff. I tried to grow french beans last year after they were recommended as being spectacular growers. All went well, and the beans' rapid growth was indeed impressive, until I went away for a few days, and the weather turned a bit wet. When I got back, slugs and snails had reduced 8 thriving plants to 8 stalks and 1 leaf. Despite late night slug hunts every day, the plants never recovered.

Those pesky slugs and snails Once they've done that amount of damage, there's not a lot you can do I'm afraid. In order to deter them in the first place, try putting lots of mulch around the plants -stuff like grass cuttings, or even straw. They don't much like that, even when it's wet. I also use small containers (individual yoghurt pots are ideal) 3/4 filled with beer, then sunk almost to the top in the soil. This gives them a decent death