What to sow inFebruary

Pinch out the growing tips once the first pods form to discourage blackfly. They'll also ripen faster.

Sow every 3 weeks for a continuous harvest. Pick regularly to keep them producing — leave one pod on and the whole plant slows down.

Drop seedlings into deep holes and just water in — no need to fill the hole. They'll fatten up on their own.

Different varieties for each season — spring, summer, autumn, and winter types. Red cabbage is less bothered by caterpillars.

Fold outer leaves over the curd to keep it white. Cauliflower leaves are delicious too — don't throw them away.

Grow through summer, harvest from autumn through winter. Flavour improves after frost. Start early — they're slow.

Slow to germinate (3-4 weeks) — don't give up on it. Soak seeds overnight in warm water to speed things up. Flat-leaf has the stronger flavour.

Sow seeds on the surface — they need light to germinate. Start early in a propagator. Cutting celery is much easier than trench celery if you're new to it.

Pinch out side shoots on cordon types. Feed weekly with tomato feed once the first truss sets. Don't overwater — flavour comes from a bit of stress.

Start early — they're slow growers. Pinch out the first flower to encourage bushier growth and more fruit overall.

Need heat to germinate — use a propagator or the warmest windowsill you've got. The more sun they get, the hotter the fruit.

Start very early — January isn't too soon. Limit to 5-6 fruits per plant if you want decent-sized aubergines rather than marbles.

Pinch out the growing tips once the first pods form to discourage blackfly. They'll also ripen faster.

One of the easiest fruit bushes for UK allotments. Plant a bare-root bush in winter, prune to an open goblet shape, and it will produce kilos of fruit every summer for 20+ years. Pick them young for cooking, or leave to ripen fully for eating fresh.

Blackcurrants are packed with vitamin C and make the best jam and cordial. Plant deep — 5cm below the soil line — to encourage strong shoots from the base. Prune a third of the oldest wood out each winter. One bush produces 4-5kg of fruit.

Beautiful jewel-like berries that hang in trusses. They tolerate more shade than most fruit, so they are perfect for a north-facing fence. Prune to a permanent framework like a gooseberry, not like a blackcurrant.

Plant a crown in winter, do not harvest the first year, and it will reward you with decades of stalks. Pull (do not cut) stalks from April to June, then leave it alone to build strength for next year. Force a clump in January for the most tender, pink stems.