Even if March is cold and wet, there are still things you can do. As soon as the soil surface is dry, carve out any new beds, weed the ground, dig over and feed (see 'All About Gardening', Nursery World, 5 January), clear away and compost all plant debris.
The vegetable patch
To avoid exhausting your soil and encouraging pests and diseases, 'rotate'
vegetables, i.e. grow a different type in each plot each year. Also, because each crop leaves behind nutrients that benefit another crop (for example, legumes fix nitrogen in the soil, needed by brassicas), there's a rule for which crop follows which. There are four groups: 1 legumes (peas, beans)
2 brassicas (broccoli, cabbages)
3 root vegetables and tomatoes, plus any other vegetables not in:
4 the onion family (onions, shallots, garlic).
The crops always stay in that order. Draw a plan of what you sow where in 2006. Next year, move each group along to the next plot. Having four basic areas is simplest.
If one crop takes up too little space, fill in with marigolds, nasturtiums, sunflowers, borage, salads or courgettes, and don't worry if any groups are entirely missing. If you only grow salads and beans, that's fine, but move them around each year.
The earliest crops
Radishes and 'early' peas, such as Early Onward, are hardy enough to be sown now, unless the ground is frosted. Follow the instructions on the packet, and keep the soil moist. Or try shallots: plant 'seed shallots'
just deep enough to be firm but not quite covered with soil, about 15cm apart.
Indoors
Try growing the seeds of a ripe tomato. Sieve out and wash the seeds under the tap, then plant in small pots of seed compost. Pierce three to four holes underneath newspaper-lined yoghurt pots, or use egg boxes. Push the seeds lightly into the compost in each pot. Keep uniformly moist and in good light. Later, discard all but the best seedling per pot, tip it out and transfer to a 12cm-diameter pot or a sunny bed.
Futher information
* 'A beginner's guide to growing from seed' at www.gardenorganic.org.uk
* In cold areas, cover recycled metal 'Handy Hoops' with horticultural fleece to protect plants from frost. From 'Dr Growgood' (01829 731810; www.drgrowgood.co.uk)
