Jobs

*Dig over and manure heavy soil, unless very wet

*Weeding (yes, weeds can still grow in winter)

*Lift and store late beetroot, carrots, turnips, swedes

*Check stored vegetables and remove anything damaged or rotting

*Mark positions of winter root crops (e.g: parsnips) in case of snow

*Lift rhubarb crowns for indoor forcing

*Remove yellowing leaves from brassicas and stake tall plants. Lime old brassica plots to prevent club root disease.

*Thin out over-wintered lettuce

*Prune established fruit trees (EXCEPT for cherries, plums, peaches and damsons)

*Sow outside: broad beans, hardy peas

*Plant fruit trees and bushes, garlic bulbs, rhubarb crowns, winter salads, Japanese greens

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January: Happy 2026!

Jobs

As for last month, plus:

*Start chitting first early seed potatoes

*Force rhubarb crowns by excluding light

*Take blackcurrant cuttings from prunings

*Repair paths, cages, cloches

*Plan crop rotations for spring

Sow indoors: cauliflower, peppers, chillies

Sow under cover: broad beans, lettuce, peas, radishes, cress, rocket

Plant: garlic, rhubarb crowns, shallots, fruit trees and bushes

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February

Jobs

*Dig over light soil and manure, unless the soil is frozen

*Start preparing seed beds

*Chit first early seed potatoes

*Cover strawberries for early fruiting

*Start lifting leeks and parsnips

*Continue planting fruit if conditions are suitable

*Complete pruning of established fruit trees

Plant

*Jerusalem artichokes, spring cabbage, garlic bulbs, onion sets, shallots, rhubarb crowns

Sow indoors: globe artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chilli, leek, onion, pepper and tomato seeds

Sow outdoors under cover: beetroot, broad beans, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, kale, leeks, lettuce, Japanese bunching onions, main crop and spring onions, parsley, parsnips, peas, radishes, spinach

Sow outdoors in good conditions: broad beans, kohlrabi, onions, parsley, parsnips, peas, radishes, spinach

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