Tips on how to grow your own vegetables - plus, find out what else needs doing in the garden this week.

By Hannah Stephenson.

As 'grow your own' campaigns have gathered momentum in the last few years, many people have had a go at growing their own veg, even if they've just had time and space to sow a few lettuces in a window box.

But if you're one of the few who has steered away from veg, perhaps preferring your flower borders to look ordered and formal, now's the time to create some space especially for edibles and think about what you are going to sow.

Check the soil temperature first, because if you sow too early the seedlings will struggle and become vulnerable to pests and diseases. It's likely that the recent cold snap will have delayed many sowings for a few weeks.



To prepare a seed bed, the soil needs to be broken down to a fine tilth and the surface levelled off with a rake - it should end up like a fine, crumbly texture. Throw out any stones, weeds and other debris you come across while doing this. It's also advisable to add some fertiliser such as chicken manure pellets or blood, fish and bone to the soil before sowing.

Then you can grow a wealth of vegetables, from spring onions, leeks, beetroot and radishes, to carrots, parsnips and kohl rabi. If the area you have is too small to rotate crops, then grow what you like where you can, but don't plant the same crop in the same place two years running.


Set out a garden line or pegs and string to mark the position of the rows and use the row spacing for each vegetable following the instructions on the seed packet. Allow for different spacing between rows of different crops, so that a larger one doesn't swamp a smaller one.


After sowing, cover big seeds such as peas with around 1cm of soil, but less for smaller seeds. Water thoroughly with a fine sprinkler which won't disturb the soil or wash away the seeds afterwards.


Once they have sprouted, select two or three fat shoots to grow on and rub out the rest. Seed potatoes can be bought from garden centres. Don't risk using old ones from the supermarket because they are more likely to become diseased.


Quick-growing lettuces such as 'Little Gem' can be sown in late February or March in mild areas, in rows 15cm (6in) apart. If the soil is workable, make a first sowing of the quick-growing carrot variety, 'Early Nantes'.



If you persevere with growing vegetables from seed, before you know it, you will be sitting down to a meal of delicious vegetables you have grown yourself - and will probably have enough left over to give to your neighbours.

Best of the bunch - Chionodoxa The name of these pretty pint-size bulbs means 'glory of the snow', and all originate from the Mediterranean.

The blue species provides a dazzling splash of colour in February or March when planted in quantity, as the clear blue star-shaped flowers fading to a chalk white centre appear above green pleated leaves.

Chionodoxa will flower in part shade and in the wild it is found in poor soil in harsh mountain conditions.

In the average domestic garden it should establish itself vigorously and makes wonderful underplanting for deciduous shrubs such as magnolia. It also goes well with other spring bulbs, such as paler yellow daffodils. Good varieties include C. luciliae and the slightly later flowering C. forbesii.






Three ways to... Succeed with steps 1. Remember they should be in keeping with their immediate surrounding. If you have a formal, precisely laid terrace connected to the steps, use similar material for the steps.

2. If your steps are some way from the patio, further into the garden, they could be made from different natural materials such as logs or natural stone, to reflect this.

3. Make the most of a change of level by incorporating other features such as planting within the cracks of the steps to soften the line, or cascade planting from a raised bed at the sides of the steps to create interest.

What to do this week :: Test your soil to see if the pH needs adjusting or if the soil is lacking any major nutrients.

:: Continue to re-firm any young plants lifted by frost.

:: Check your greenhouse for signs of aphids such as greenfly and blackfly and take action immediately.

:: Keep beds clear of weeds. Groundsel and chickweed should be removed from growing chrysanthemum.

:: In mild regions, sow half-hardy annuals under glass for pricking out towards the end of March.

:: Lift and divide clumps of overcrowded perennials.

:: Plant new roses before spring.

:: Continue to order seedlings and young bedding plants, which will be delivered later in spring to pot up and grow on to flowering size.

:: Remove damaged or diseased branches of apple and pear trees.

:: Keep sacking or old carpet handy to put over cold frames during very cold weather.