Pots of joy

Pippa Greenwood One of the top experts on pests and diseases, Pippa gardens using organic methods. Matt Biggs Matt trained at Kew and has been gardening professionally for more than 30 years. Kirsty W

It’s time for sowing, planting alpine containers and living screens and tidying up old growth

Bob explains why less disturbance can lead to healthier plants

There are some vegetables that thrive in the cold, but unless you aspire to self-sufficiency Tom Coward recommends caution when sowing very early in the year. “It’s a mistake, although we always do it

Sow courgette and squash seeds now so you’ll have seedlings ready to plant outside in early summer. Fill pots or large module trays with peat-free multi-purpose compost. Place one seed in each pot, ab

Some 68 per cent of British adults visit a garden centre each year with the hope of a brighter summer, according to the Horticultural Trades Association. We’ve all been there; filling the trolley with