Vegetables

Give your beds a boost by adding a thick layer of mulch around plants to lock in moisture and ensure the soil doesn’t dry out.

Plant out your prepared potatoes when the soil has started to warm up. Start planting tomato, beetroot and courgettes under glass in a heated propagator or on a sunny windowsill to encourage quick germination.

In warmer parts of the country, you can start planting lettuce outside. Plant the seeds every three to four weeks in a sunny spot to ensure a fresh supply all summer.

Remove any dead heads off rhubarb flowers. And don’t forget to plant your shallots, onion sets and early potatoes outside, and your tomatoes, aubergines and peppers inside.