My heart is aching a bit to see the slug. I am always protecting them, no mapper what. If i come across one outside, always place them in a safe place so people don't step on them. It's just who I am.
Your asparagus looks wonderful. We have a garden but the soil is not suitable for growing asparagus, unfortunately.
I don't know why your peppers stopped growing but it's definitely not the seeds. if the seeds would be too old,they would not grow at all.