Fruit & Veg…
Sow beans, marrow, courgettes and squash, two seeds per pot for the strongest plants, thin out the weakest seeding
Pick rhubarb and water with a generous amount of liquid feed
In case of frost, cover fruit trees with horticultural fleece to protect the blossom
Sow seeds outside for beetroot, lettuce, salad leaves, watercress and rocket
Flowers…
Plant out container-grown roses and shrubs
Add compost to flower beds in preparation for summer bedding
For climbing plants, tie in new growth to supports; clematis, wisteria and honeysuckle will be growing vigorously at the moment
Pick off faded flowers from azaleas, rhododendrons and camelias, being careful not to damage developing new leaves
Around the garden…
Dig weeds out of lawns, such as daisies and dandelions
Check for greenfly and blackfly developing on shrubs and roses; spray with a soft soap solution if you find any infestations
Collect hellebore seeds from ripe pods and either store in an envelope or sprinkle over some prepared soil
Check that your RCD works for all your outdoor power tools before using them
In the greenhouse…
If you have them, make sure automatic openers to greenhouse vents are working. It would be worthwhile to fit some if you don’t already have them
Plant tomatoes in grow bags or large pots making sure to add canes or wires for support
Plant beans in pots to encourage strong growth
Plant various varieties of chillies in pots
Bring in pots of strawberries to encourage early flowers and fruit
Keep alert for pests by checking under leaves and on shoot tips for signs of whitefly or red spider mite. These should be treated straight away or you can introduce some biological pest control
