by Tom Petherick

With snowdrops appearing it appears that spring is on the way so some early preparations for the is wondrous season can start to be made. Every now and then the cold weather breaks and there comes a really warm day in February when you can smell the soil warming up. Take it easy, don''t get too carried away with small seeds in the vegetable garden or put any tender plants out but you could put in a shallot or start to move some herbaceous perennials around.

Here are some important tasks to do at this time of year. Some you may have done already but its not too late to catch up with them now.

Finish off planting any roses this month. They have poor root systems and dislike root disturbance once they have come into growth. You can plant border bulbs such as lilies this month because they go in deep and will not be troubled by frost and heavy rain. February is a good time to start sowing those half hardy annual flowers that have a long growing season. Antirrhinums (snapdragons) are the classic ones to sow in February because they are very slow growing. Tomatoes also need to be sown in February along with chilis and peppers. 

All fruit pruning must be finished this month in case a dry, warm spell starts things into growth. Any fruit tree planting should also be completed in February.

Some gentle work on the lawn could be possible if the weather has been dry but stay off it at all cost if the weather is wet.

Examine the compost heap and if the opportunity arises prepare it for use in the vegetable garden. Peel back the unbroken down layers on the surface and either transfer them to a new bay or put them at the bottom of the old one with the made compost on top where it can be easily reached when required. 

A vital task to carry out in February is to chit your seed potatoes. Stand them up in egg boxes or seed trays in the light but not direct sunlight so they can sprout from the eyes.