Always try to water in the morning so the plants' leaves have enough time to dry. Leaving the plants wet overnight can lead to fungus problems. The best way to retain moisture in your soil, especially during the hot days of summer, is to mulch the area around each plant. You can use grass clippings or hay. Mulching has an added advantage - fewer weeds.
Insects are a gardener's nightmare.
Aphids, beetles, slugs and caterpillars can destroy a garden and undermine all of your hard work. Insecticidal soap, sprayed on the top and underneath of the leaves, will keep all but the slug at bay. For him, use slug bait, sold at most garden centers, or create a roadblock around your plants by using crushed eggshells. Slugs slide over the eggshells and die. Succession planting is a way of achieving a continuous harvest, every gardener's dream.