Potatoes are very easy to grow and if you have a new piece of ground you wish to put over to vegetable growing, they are a good first crop to clear the ground clear.

Although larger, baking potatoes are relatively cheap to buy, salad varieties can be more costly so these are the varieties I tend to grow.

There’s nothing quite like serving up a freshly dug spud with a sprig of mint and a knob of butter, yum.

I try not to plant too many spuds now just putting over one bed over to them as I’m amazed at how many potatoes grow from one seed potato, they can be left in the ground for a fairly long time, digging up as and when required to keep you in ready supply.

Once you’ve chosen the spud you’d like to have a go at growing, buy them from a reputable supplier.

Then to chit them, place them in a cool, frost-free place, where the potatoes will grow short stubby shoots.

This will give them a head start and will make them grow faster once planted. I generally plant Easter weekend.

Things can look a bit shabby at this time of year admittedly but giving the greenhouse a good clean, even the plant pots have had a wash out has restored some order! Wonders will never cease!

Now a stock take of the seed situation, I keep the old packs and write notes on them so I remember to reorder the same again if they worked well for me or not if they didn’t!

Trim that wisteria

Another job that is nagging me is to trim my wisteria.

Although it can be left to ramble it will flower more freely if I prune it and I like to feel I’m vaguely in control of it!

Cutting back the growths to two or three buds will make sure the flowers are shown off to their best and are not obscured by leaves.

If you’ve left your wisteria for a few years you can give it a hard prune to stimulate strong, new growth.

Long branches can be drastically shortened and older stems removed to just above a young, strong branch or back to a main stem or even to ground level.