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Forcing rhubarb by covering the crowns will encourage the plants to make early growth. These forced stalks can be harvested for use in cooking when they are 20cm - 30cm long and make a useful substitute for fruit when there is little else in store

Plant any prepared narcissi now and you'll be able to enjoy their fragrant flowers during the dark days of winter. For an interesting indoor display, choose a glass bowl and fill it with gravel, glass beads or pebbles. 'Paperwhite', 'Soleil D'Or' or any prepared narcissus bulbsPe...

Learn how to grow garlic indoors by following Chris Beardshaw's video guide. Chris shows you how to 'force' an early crop and highlights the importance of a chilling period.OctoberMore advice on growing garlicHow to grow garlicHow to harvest garlic

Anemones make a beautiful indoor display, particularly at Christmas time. If you want to create a festive display of anemones, you'll need to 'force' the corms approximately 20 weeks ahead of the big occasion.In nature, spring bulbs and corms spend

The artificial inducing of plant growth by the control of heat and light. In some cases light is increased to encourage early flowering, while in others, light is excluded to encourage earlier production and more tender growth.

Follow Sarah Raven's step-by-step video guide to creating an attractive display of paper-white narcissi for the Christmas table. Sarah gives tips on compost, planting depth and how to support the flowers.autumnChristmasMore Christmas projectsHow to plant hyacinths in a pot.How to...

Dig over veg plots, mixing compost into the soil as you goContinue filling a trench with kitchen waste where you want to grow beansCover rhubarb with forcing jars for an early harvestUse cloches to warm the soil for early sowingsPlant new fruit

Forcing narcissiEnjoy an early scent of spring by forcing narcissi. The bulbs are in the shops from late-August and if planted immediately you can have them in flower by Christmas.Remove suckers from roses, shrubs and treesTrim box hedging

Sow onion seed under cover, and keep warm until germinatedCheck overwintering plants for signs of greenfly and other pests, and treat if necessaryBring potted strawberries under coverDig up clumps of rhubarb to force into growth in darkness under

Plant new fruit trees, canes and bushesUse cloches to warm soil for early sowingsPrepare areas for planting asparagusPrune apple and pear trees to remove congested, badly placed, damaged or diseased branchesCover seakale to force new shoots