• Vegetables
As temperatures drop, weeds speed up their growth, producing seeds in a surprisingly short time. Remember the old saying, "One year's seeding, 10 years weeding", and keep the garden weeded.
At the very least, cut flower heads from weeds and compost them. Do not leave flower heads on the ground as they will produce seeds in a last-ditch effort to beat the gardener.
Onion seed can be sown now in shallow drills, 30cm apart. The small plants can stand over the winter and mature next summer. Prepare the bed by digging in manure.
Garlic and shallots should be lifted on a dry day and stored. Tie the stems together and hang in a warm, dry spot.
Main-crop potatoes should be dug. Lift them on a fine day, wipe soil off with a dry cloth, then store in a single layer in shallow boxes lined with newspaper. Cover with paper and store in a dark, dry place.
In contrast, seed potatoes are stored exposed to light. Place in shallow trays with their eyes (embryo shoots) looking up.
If you are saving your own potatoes to use as seed, choose egg-sized tubers from the plants that produced the best crops.
Cabbages, curly kale, Chinese cabbage, swede, turnips, broccoli and Brussels sprouts can be sprinkled with derris dust to protect them from white butterflies and other pests.
Derris should not be applied within two or three days of harvesting vegetables.
• Flowers
Continue to plant ranunculus, anemones, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, narcissus, Muscari (grape hyacinths) and other spring-flowering bulbs. Tulips need well-limed soil, while other bulbs should have it applied sparingly. Blood and bone is the best fertiliser for bulbs.
Primulas are a genus that includes polyanthus, primrose, cowslip (Primula veris) and the sweet-scented auricula. Most of this group need constantly moist soil and some sun, although the fairy primrose (P. malacoides) needs part-shade and well-drained, gritty soil.
Plant lilies before the soil becomes too wet and cold for them to make their unseen, but important, growth through the winter. Because they need well-drained soil, lily bulbs can be placed on gravel mixed with compost. Do not add lime.
• Fruit
Strawberries can still be planted in a sunny spot.
Apply superphosphate or bone dust to aid healthy growth.
Strawberries do best in moist soils with plenty of organic material and well-decayed leaf mould added.
