It has to be said that almost as soon as the clocks change the weather goes from winter to summer, well spring and is set to get warmer. Although the weather is getting hotter in the day it is still very cold by night, so don't be fooled into putting summer bedding plants outside yet. The Easter break is coming up and that is always the time when gardeners start to 'go for it' in the garden; just remember Easter is still too early to put things out.

•It is a well known trick to plant early spuds late and main crop spuds early – you may well think this is double Dutch but actually it makes a lot of sense. What you need to do is plant early or new potatoes early but if you plant them too early they will send up green lush new growth that then gets burnt off by the frost. Main crop varieties should be planted early because they need a long growing season. You only learn the best time for planting by experience, but you must expect some frosts up to mid May and these can cause damage so keep them earthed up well until then.

•Potatoes are heavy feeders and so it is essential that you prepare the soil well. Traditionally the soil would have been well manured the previous autumn. A generous application of a fertiliser such as blood fish and bone or bonemeal or growmore should be raked in at around 112g/sq m a few days before planting. Don't lime the soil, or plant in an area that has been limed in the last two years.

•Plants in permanent containers will be starting to put on strong new growth so help them along with a bit of TLC. Replace the top 3-5 cm of compost with fresh compost. Add a slow release fertiliser, or remember to liquid feed regularly through the growing season. Prune out dead and dying foliage and check for signs of pests or disease.

•This is an ideal time of year to propagate a wide range of plants and bring some on from seed. Keep a watchful eye to make sure none are overcrowded. Prick the seedlings out as soon as they are big enough to handle. Once cuttings have rooted they should be moved on into larger pots. For a good winter food crop try growing brassicas, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages and cauliflowers. The seed needs to be started early. Sow in a well-prepared seedbed and transplant once they have made two or three true leaves. Firm into their new position and don't forget to water them. Net them too.

•Use cloches and cold frames to warm the soil before sowing vegetable seeds direct into the ground, cover small areas and sow seeds at two week intervals to give a regular crop and avoid gluts. You can use cloches over strawberries to get a crop early in the year, but remember to vent them during the day to allow the bees to pollinate them.

•In the greenhouse pot on rooted cuttings of plants you want to use for summer displays. It is not too late to take softwood cuttings of things like fuchsias and pelargoniums to grow on for summer bedding.