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up chicory roots to force in the darkPlant new fruit trees, bushes and cane fruitsCollect seeds from garlic and chivesStart pruning apples, pears and figsTake hardwood cuttings from currants and gooseberriesSpread compost or rotted manure onto beds

tomatoes with Bordeaux mixture to prevent blightThin heavy fruit crops, picking off the smallest. Aim to leave developing fruits about 10-15cm apart along the stems, perhaps thinning congested spurs down to just a single fruitSow seed of herbs now

Plant onion sets in modular trays of compost, raising plants under cover to plant out laterRepair netting on fruit cagesContinue forcing sea kale and chicoryBuy herbs to plant up in containers that you can position near the housePlant out shallots

Sow peas in lengths of guttering under cover, so you can plant out seedlings in an instant rowPlant out onion sets in rows, spacing them about 10-15cm apartCarefully dig away grass or plants growing close to the stems of fruit trees to reduce

Sow sweetcorn in deep modular seed trays under cover to plant out in early JuneFeed fruit trees and bushesPlant out onion sets grown in pots under glassOrder vegetable plug plants from mail-order suppliersWarm soil with cloches or sheets

Sow seeds of dwarf beans in rows and climbing ones alongside canesPlant out crops being raised in pots under glass, such as marrows, courgettes and tomatoesCover soft fruits with netting to prevent birds eating themSow a few seeds of salad leaves

Pick ripe apples and store the best in fruit cratesDig up strawberry runners and pot them upNet autumn raspberries and blackberries to protect them from birdsLift and dry maincrop potatoes and store in paper sacks in a cool, dark placePot up a few

Continue picking sweetcorn, beans and marrows Prune out fruited blackberry stems and tie in new onesSave seeds from favourite bean varieties to plant next springHarvest and store apples, wrapping them in newspaper for storageLift and store onions

and autumn-fruiting raspberries

stemsPrune red and white currants, shortening side shoots to a single budPot up strawberries to grow under cover for an early cropCheck your soil's pH with a special kit and add lime if it's too acidic for your plantsCheck fruit and vegetables in store