November is great for clearing, cleaning and tidying and hopefully we’ll have clear blue-sky days this coming week to enjoy while we do so.

It’s also time to start planting for spring, which always brings a smile to my face and lifts the gloom of dark mornings.

  • Sow hardy peas (try Feltham First) and broad beans (try Aquadulce Claudia) into small pots but have fleece at the ready for the frosts and watch out for over watering from rain
  • The first frosts will have sweetened parsnips so lift them now
  • Stake large brassicas, add soil around the bases to help steady them in bad weather and net from hungry feathered friends
  • Divide rhubarb plants to keep them productive
  • Plant tulip bulbs at three times their own depth but the other spring bulbs about twice their own depth
  • Plant bare-root roses while thinking of summer!
  • Choose your spring bedding plants and plant them out
  • Raise pots on ceramic feet to prevent waterlogging and reduce frost damage
  • If you haven’t done so already, net ponds to stop falling leaves clogging them up
  • Keep tidying to reduce the areas that snails and slugs can hide in

We’d love to hear your tips and see what you’ve achieved in the garden this weekend so do comment below or on Facebook @PacketNewspapers and on Twitter @ThePacket.