Harden off and Plant out Seedlings
Move seedlings outside during the day and back inside at night. If in cold frames or cloches, open in the day and close at night. Plant out only when there is no longer any danger of frost’
Water Seeds and Seedlings
Water regularly; all growing plants need to be kept moist. They may not survive if you let them dry out.
Weed
Keep weeding as they compete with your plants for water and nutrients. Using a hoe on dry warm days is the easiest way as the sun will dry and kill the roots.
Protect against Frosts
If you decide to plant out tender plants, it may be wise to have cloches, tunnels fleece or newspaper to cover the plants at night if it looks like there is a possibility of frost.
Thin out Seedlings
Plants need room to grow to a reasonable size so you will need to thin out your seedlings.
Pot on
Re-pot into larger containers any plants that are becoming pot –bound if you are not yet ready to plant outside
Support Broad Beans
Stake the beans with canes and string to help support the weight of the pods
Earth up Potatoes
Draw soil up around growing plants to prevent the tubers breaking through the soil. If exposed to light they turn green and can be poisonous.
Support for Peas and Climbing Beans
Peas and beans need supports so they can climb upwards and not sprawl on the ground where they can be eaten by slugs and snails. It is easier to erect the supports now and they can be hazel or birch peasticks or even chicken wire.
Strawberries
If cold cover strawberries at night but uncover in the day to allow insects to pollinate them. Cut off any unwanted runners. Remove all blossoms from new plants as it is best if they do not crop in their first year.
Fruit Bushes
Weed around fruit bushes and canes. When it is damp after it has rained spread a layer of organic mulch around the bushes and canes to retain moisture and help suppress weeds.
Raspberry Canes
Pull or cut out some off the new shoots and suckers otherwise you will end up with too many canes. This could stop the sunshine and air penetrating and your fruit may become diseased or under-developed.
Gooseberries
Begin to thin out the gooseberries as the fruits develop. Any you pick are unlikely to be ripe enough to eat raw but can be used for cooking.
Prune Trained Fruit Trees
Prune trained cherry and plum trees. Shorten leaders and side shoots trained apples and pears. Either thin or tie in new shoots on trained apricots, peaches and nectarines.