Grow your own - Slugs and snails and…

Although still vulnerable to frost and chill winds, the March garden is beginning to respond to the lengthening days and the hint of warmth in the midday sun. A visit to the garden centre will prove that gardeners are starting to get active, enticed by the promise of a new and exciting growing season.

Although still vulnerable to frost and chill winds, the March garden is beginning to respond to the lengthening days and the hint of warmth in the midday sun. A visit to the garden centre will prove that gardeners are starting to get active, enticed by the promise of a new and exciting growing season.

Like humans, slugs and snails are stirring and taking an interest in the new growth in the garden. In nursery gardens, slug pellets are not a great idea but there are lots of other options, from weed control to night patrols. The Royal Horticultural Society has plenty of advice on keeping hungry slugs and snails at bay: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=231

Garden duty

Weeds are coming back into growth, so keep on top of them before they keep on top of you. Some weeding now will save lots of work later.

Last month you washed out your greenhouse to eliminate disease – now take advantage of sunny days to open doors and vents and give it an airing.

If you chitted potatoes in February they should be sending out some shoots by now, and when these are around 2cm they are ready to plant out into a prepared bed. Potatoes love deep soil and in small gardens can be grown very successfully in large tubs or a stack of tyres filled with compost.

Plant onions, shallots and garlic sets outside.

Some seedssuch as broad beans, carrots, parsnips, beetroot, lettuces, radish, peas and spinach can be sown outdoors in milder areas and depending on the weather. If the weather is still fierce then you should wait a little.

Start sowing ‘Mediterranean’ cropssuch as peppers, tomatoes and aubergines indoors.

Put plant supports in place for peas and beans.

Avoid digging if the weather is still wet and use planks to avoid treading down the soil.