Patience is a virtue

With the promise of warmer days and rising temperatures, it is tempting to load up with trays and pots of seedlings. However hold back from planting them out in your garden. The night time temperatures can plunge after glorious sunny days and the little plants will shiver and shrivel throughout the night. The soil may still be cold so their roots won't have taken hold; seeds will lie dormant in the ground and may rot. We all gaze with envy at our neighbour's patch but unless you have the time to put your planting to bed with a covering of night-time fleece or cloche, or can make the effort to bring them indoors overnight - hold back. Your tomatoes, peppers, beans and the like will catch up with more consistent warmer weather.