Finally the weather is on the change and the ground is warming up so it’s time to get  moving!!

First sow all those seeds, which have a particular sensitivity to frost, into containers which can either be housed indoors on windowsills or in the greenhouse propagator. I’m talking runner beans, French beans, courgetts, and pumpkins.The key thing here is not to get ahead of yourself!! A good friend of mine,who will remain nameless other than ‘Bigboy’ of Hereford proudly put his beautiful runner beans out 3 weeks ago and lost the lot to frost damage so remember the story of the tortoise and the hare! The key is to be sure that all risk of frost has gone and if you have planted out and there is a frost warning, get some agricultural fleece, wrap them round your plants and pray!!

I have only just planted out my onion sets , broad beans , potatoes and peas and although they are all a tad late i hope that they will catch up with this lovely weather.You can also start to plant out your salad leaves but remember, only a little at a time, say half a row, and then repeat 3 /4 weeks later…if you don’t you will have a glut of produce and then nothing.

Towards the end of the month, you can start to ‘harden off’! This isn’t some kind of ‘Rambo’ affair, rather it’s when plants such as tomatoes which are intended to be planted outside, are moved outdoors during the day and then brought back in for the night, thus aclimatising them over a 2 to 3 week period.

Fruit trees and canes can be fed and don’t forget to set your slug traps..Do that now and you will negate the ‘second generation’ which is bound to follow.

Hoe and weed as much as you can.The more you do now, the easier it will be in the comming months.

Top tip

Bird scaring tape…..This is coloured silver on one side and red on the other.If you tie it to two sticks either end of a row of produce, the birds will not come near.The theory is that the tape gives the impression of fire and keeps them away. Whatever the reason, I know it works and having experienced the disapointment of pidgeon damage I can  recommend it.