Planning what to do

Below is a checklist of jobs that need doing in the veg garden.

Winter

Digging over vacant ground, spreading organic manures, incorporating green manures, checking the pH and adding lime if required and generally giving your soil some attention should get it in the best condition for an early start in spring. In fact, once the soil is in perfect condition and sufficiently moist it can be covered with an opaque sheet to keep it ready for sowing. Transparent sheeting and cloches will also warm the soil, but you have to be prepared to do a little weeding.

Clean out containers ready for next year.

Gather winter vegetables and use those in store, discarding any rotted samples.

Compost bins can be emptied, the contents mixed and the bins refilled.

Plans for next year's cropping can be drawn up and seeds and other planting material ordered in good time. It is also worth getting in sufficient canes, stakes, netting, fertiliser and pesticides to save time later. Mail order suppliers and gardening clubs and societies can offer significant savings over retail outlets.

When seeds arrive make a seed organiser and store the seed in cool, dark dry conditions. Potato tubers can be laid out to sprout or 'chit'.

By late winter there is an almost irresistible temptation to start sowing and planting. However, unless your garden is unusually well drained and in a sheltered mild district it better to wait for spring.

Indoors some sowings can be made, but be aware that windowsills are rather dark and seedlings suffer if grown on them for prolonged periods. Greenhouses offer better conditions but some heating will be needed if healthy well-grown plants are to be raised.

Broad beans, Brussels sprouts, early summer cabbage, calabrese, cauliflowers, leeks, onions, peas, radish, shallots, spinach and turnips are suitable for raising under cover.

It is often better to buy plants in spring than take trouble and cost of raising your own early transplants.

Jerusalem artichokes can be planted out in winter.