Pot them up now for early colour and free plants from the new shoots

Give good heat, water, hygiene and airflow to get them through to spring

Soil conditions and frost risk mean patience is essential

Fresh experiments signal a season of change in the garden

As winter eases and spring beckons, longer days bring the garden to life – and your growing year starts here…

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