Veggie jobs for the weekend!

Towards the end of the month early potatoes that have start to sprout (chitting) like Red Duke of York and Accent can be planted out in the garden. Wait until April if you live in a really cold area. If you haven't purchased your seed potatoes yet then St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres have lots of certified varieties in stock. If you don't have a garden or allotment you can grow them in a large tub. Simply plant at the bottom and keep adding compost as they grow so you keep the potatoes in the dark and prevent them from going green. If the stub feels light give them a water.

Don't forget also to keep your early vegetable sowings safe from cold and animals by using protective fleece or clear polythene. Garden Centres like St Bridget Nurseries sell these by the running metre from a roll or in pre-formed structures like mini-tunnels.

Spuds!

You should try and harvest all your potatoes by the end of September to avoid them being eaten by slugs! Lift potatoes carefully with a garden fork and try to remove all of them otherwise you'll get some growing next year in a place you may not want them to. Store potatoes in a dark, coo, frost-free place. Natural fibre potato sacks are ideal and are now available at St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres.