Vegetables – are you ready for potato chitting time yet?

A cool, sunny windowsill, cool glasshouse or similar is best and egg boxes act as excellent carriers for the sets once they arrive.

Sow onions and leeks now under glass for an early start. Search out a good variety of summer cabbage to sow under glass now in a cellular tray for transplanting in March to a sheltered bed outdoors.

` Fruit – have you got enough pollinators around you to ensure a good pollination of your apples this year?

If not treat yourself to one of the better crab apples such as John Downie or Golden Hornet.

Mulch all fruit trees, canes and bushes with well-rotted animal manure to ensure that winter moisture is retained.

Check stored apples for brown rot and destroy infected ones – do not compost them.