I like the ashes tip! I've got a small snail problem, but my pots are accessible not only to R but to the neighbours' kids too so I'm reluctant to use slug pellets on my veg. I bought watermelon seeds today in Lidl, am I being over-ambitious?
Changing the subject completely: Eating. R eats like a horse. He likes big lumps - burger, chips, roasties, sausages, clementine segments, toast, fish fingers etc and eats his banana from the skin like a grown up! - and fork mashed stuff. I gave him mince and veg yesterday and he spat it out. Gave him exactly the same today but mixed with sweet potato and he scarfed the lot (he had it last week with regular mash so I know he likes the taste). He's also not keen on using a spoon - will do a couple of mouthfuls then either squeak till I do it or just get in with his hands. Same with a fork - he'll spear it nicely, but generally then takes the food off to put in his mouth even though he's capable of spearing/scooping and getting it in properly. Is this something that'll come with time, or should I be strongly encouraging him to use cutlery? I think he's still in this seemingly-endless growth spurt so I don't want to get too heavy because I think he still needs all the food... Should I be concerned? I offer lots of textures and he rarely gets puree other than fromage frays/yoghurt/fruit puree for pudding, so after a meal if ha! when he's still hungry