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Monty demonstrates how to sow carrot seed and shares tips on protecting your crop from carrot root fly with a combination of physical barriers, companion planting and later sowings.spring-summerMore advice on growing carrotsAdvice on dealing

Sow seeds of cucumbers, tomatoes, aubergines and peppers to raise summer cropsWater compost with a suitable pesticide where vine weevils have been discoveredSow summer bedding plants, such as petunias, geranium, verbena and busy LizzieTake cuttings

to protect blossomSow seeds of the following crops this week if conditions are fine: beetroot, parsnips, turnips, onions, peas and mangetout, broad beans, lettuce and salad leaves, spinach, radish, rocket, mizuna, pak choi, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels

Trim leggy rosemary bushes to promote bushy new growthSow seeds of the following crops this week if conditions are fine: lettuce and salad leaves, spinach, radish, rocket, watercress, mizuna, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts

Tie in new shoots of blackberries and cane fruits to support wiresSow sweetcorn in deep pots, raising strong young plants to transplant into the garden in JunePinch off strawberry runners as soon as they develop, to stop them competing

Sow seeds of herbs like coriander and parsleySow veg seeds now. Try rocket, spinach, beetroot, carrots, calabrese, mini-cauliflowers, spinach, chicory, endive, kohl rabi, peas, spinach beet, swede and turnips

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

, to attract beneficial insectsThin out seedlings from earlier sowingsEarth-up potatoes by pulling soil up around their stemsBuy pheromone traps to hang in apple and plum trees to control pestsSow seeds of the following crops this week if conditions are fine

in growing bagsHarvest early potatoes, carrots and salad cropsPrune the sideshoots of gooseberry bushes back to just five leavesCut out congested raspberry canes at soil level, or those popping up in pathsFeed all crops with a liquid fertiliserSow seeds

Improve soil ready for sowing a lawn from seed during showery autumn weatherHoe and hand weed bordersOrder sweet pea seeds for autumn sowing in potsPinch out the tips of wallflowers to promote bushier growthBuy spring-flowering bulbs like tulips, crocuses