Garden expert Alan Titchmarsh is urging gardeners to use March to get ahead of the season, calling it one of the most important months for outdoor work.
In a recent video he outlined five practical tasks to prepare gardens for spring and secure an early harvest.
At the top of his list is planting early potatoes — a job he says rewards gardeners quickly.
Planted now, those early tubers can produce new potatoes from around mid-June into July, giving you fresh spuds much sooner than maincrop varieties.
Alan recommends “chitting” seed potatoes first: leave them in a bright, warm spot so tiny shoots start to form before you put them in the ground.
This simple step speeds up emergence and brings forward the harvest.
For those with a vegetable patch, he suggests the classic method: dig a trench, work in some soil improver, place tubers roughly a foot apart and cover them back over.
The routine is straightforward and reliable for good yields.
If space is limited, sacks or containers work well.
Use a container with drainage, roll the sack down halfway, add peat-free multi-purpose compost and position the seed potatoes inside.
As the shoots grow, add more compost to encourage more and bigger tubers.
Alongside potatoes, Alan highlights four other worthwhile March jobs.
Mulch beds and borders to improve soil structure and suppress weeds.
Plant summer-flowering bulbs in pots now for colour later in the year, and sow favourite flower seeds to get a head start on the season.
He also suggests assembling a spring planter to brighten patios and doorways straight away.
Finally, he reminds gardeners to pause and enjoy the changes: soil is warming and fresh shoots are appearing, a reassuring sign that spring is on its way.
With a little early effort this month, your garden will be set up for a productive and colourful season.
