1Sow tomatoes, peppers, chillies and aubergines in a heated glasshouse or propagator now for growing under glass this summer. Sow parsnips, carrots, broad beans and peas directly into warm soil now and sow leeks in cellular trays for planting out in early May. Plant early potatoes in containers and grow them under frost-free protection for an early crop of new potatoes in early June.

2Keep a close eye on edible currant bushes for the first aphid attacks of the season and treat with a fatty acid organic spray as soon as you can. Straw up field grown strawberries now and apply a general spring fertiliser.