Spring is the best time to start a veg patch, so why not get digging and produce your own food for summer and autumn. The easiest veg to start off with are salads, radishes, courgettes, beans and beetroot and you can start growing them in small pots inside your home before transferring them to the garden when they have gathered some strength.

Begin by choosing the right spot in your garden (somewhere that gets a lot of sun and is sheltered from the wind) then have fun designing and planning your plot! Remember to dig out old weeds and prepare your soil before you start planting. The soil in your garden may contain too much chalk or clay so it might be better to create some raised beds that you can fill with soil and compost.

Once your indoor seeds are sprouting, transfer them outside, keep them fed and watered and watch your garden turn into a kitchen of goodies.

For more detailed advice on how to get started follow this link from those in the know at Gardeners World.

Wild flower gardens are a haven for birds and bees, provide a rainbow of colour and don’t require a lot of room to grow. So if you’re ready to nurture nature, it’s time to get sowing!

Wild flower gardens require a hearty dig to begin with, as the fertile layer of topsoil needs to be removed from your patch to reveal the poorer quality underneath – this is where wild flowers thrive!

After that, simply rake over your soil, plant your seeds and wait for a riot of colour to emerge.

For further tips on sowing your own wild flower meadow take a look at the Wild Flower Garden Expert!