Now that the days are getting a little longer and warmer, it's a good time to visit plant centres to see the new releases and make plans for your spring/summer gardening.
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Bean there
Beans are a popular choice of vegetable for the home garden because they don't take up much space and crop very heavily for such a long time.
Beans love lime, so dig in a good dressing a few weeks before sowing seeds.
Scratch the soil surface around the beans as loose soil is warmer and moisture loss is less.
Broad beans have health benefits for the garden as a nitrogen-enriching green manure as well as for the gardener as a source of fibre, vitamins, carbohydrates and protein.
Sow broad bean seeds five centimetres deep in double rows 20cms apart and leave about one metre between each set of double rows.
Staggered sowings will provide an extended crop.
Pinch out the tips when in full bloom to encourage pod formation.
Going potty
When growing plants in containers always use quality potting mix and don't fill the container to the top - leave room so you can water the plant without overflowing.
Never leave pots sitting in saucers of water, instead fill with gravel and place the container on top to aid drainage.
Be mindful that not all plants are suited to container growing so if in doubt ask for advice at the point of purchase.
Lawn Love
If the surface of your lawn has become uneven you can top dress it in spring with a covering of two centimetres of good quality, weed-free loam.
Spring is also the time to feed lawns with a specific lawn fertiliser.
Versatile salvia
Salvias vary in size from groundcovers to small shrubs with a colour range of blue to purple, pink to red, white and yellow.
Choose a sunny to partly-shaded position in well-drained soil.
After the flowers have faded trim by one third to encourage a further flush of flowers.
The name salvia is derived from the Latin 'salvare' meaning to save, a link to its medicinal properties.
Patient potatoes
Potato planting time is nearing but if your ground is still cold and wet put this off for a little longer.
Meanwhile have the bed ready and purchase certified seed potatoes.
Carrot care
It's important to keep the soil around carrots evenly moist and never let it dry out otherwise the sudden return of moisture can cause the carrots to swell and split.