January
1.
Sow onions and leeks (seeds) under cover.
2.
Rhubarb can start to be forced if not done the previous year.
3.
Finish off any pruining of fruit trees and ensure any trained fruit (fans, cordons and espaliers) are well tied in.
4.
If buds appear on gooseberries or plums, these may need to be protected from the birds.
5.
Sow sweet peas under cover.
6.
Feed and mulch asparagus if not done in late autumn.
7.
A few early potatoes can be planted in pots and stored in a greenhouse or polytunnel for an earlier crop.
February
1.
Broard beans can be sown directly under cloches if the soil is free draining. For heavier soil plant under cover.
2.
Early cauliflowers can also be sown under cover.
3.
Keep overwintering onions, garlic and spring cabbage beds weeded.
4.
Complete planting of any fruit trees, bushes and canes.
5.
Sow calendula, cornflower and poppies, or other hardy annuals under cover.
6.
Dahlia tubers can be taken out of storage & checked for damage. Cut off damaged areas with a clean knife. Keep warm
7.
Pinch out sweet peas.
March
1.
Sow early lettuce, beetroot, celeriac, early peas, long pod broard beans and spring onions under cover in modules
2.
By the end of march it might be safe to sow out early beetroot, spinach, radish, kohlrabi in open ground.
3.
Plant out garlic and onion sets if not over wintered.
4.
Plant out first early potatoes and cover with fleace to keep warm.
5.
Feed the beds with ageneral fertiliser by spreading evenly over the soil surface.
6.
It may look sunny outside but it can still be cold so make sure you cover up seedlings undercover to keep warm.
7.
Stand seed potatoes up in tray (egg boxes are ideal) to begin to 'chit' them. Keep in good light to produce short, strong shoots.