Gardening: Readers' questions answered by Brian Kidd

Q: I planted my sweet peas last week as I thought there would not be a frost. To my horror the plants are not green now but the leaves are almost white. What have I done wrong? FL, Drayton.

A: Sadly you do not appear to have hardened the plants off before planting them in the garden. Next year put the plants outside the greenhouse for a week before planting but keep an eye on the weather forecasts. Bring them indoors if frosts are likely. I did write that we could have two frosts in May this year because there were two fogs in March. I think the plants will recover in about three weeks.

Q: I planted some petunias in my garden and noticed two of them had collapsed. I forked them out and there were hardly any roots. What do you think has attacked them? AL, Cosham.

A: This was caused by tiny black slugs which are about the size of a match head. Use crushed egg shell to deter them.