On light soil in mild areas, an early start can be made to vegetable-growing by planting shallots, early potatoes and Jerusalem artichokes, and by sowing seeds of broad beans, parsnips, onions and early peas. There is always some risk of losing the seeds from these early sowings if the weather gets wet and cold, but it is not a great expense.

If a greenhouse is available, preparations can be made for early vegetable crops. Early crops of cabbage, cauliflower, peas, French beans, onions and lettuce can be had by starting seeds off in seed trays and pricking out into cell trays, or sowing directly into cell trays of suitable size. The cabbage, French beans and cauliflower will need larger cells than onions or lettuce and can be potted into small pots for best results.

Fruit trees and bushes, including apples, pears and soft fruits, should be pruned now if necessary and if this has not been done already.