Allotment jobs for March

Dig out any problem weeds, especially perennial weeds – if you get on top of them now, they'll be easier to control for the rest of the year. Hoe regularly to prevent annual weed seedlings growing.

To help choose the right hoe for you see our guide to 10 of the best garden hoes and if you're tackling perennial weeds take a look at our roundup of 14 of the best garden spades.

Protect plants from pests

Slugs can start to be a problem in warmer, wet weather, so take steps to protect your plants. Protect brassicas from hungry pigeons by covering them with fleece. You may spot early infestations of aphids but be patient – remember they're an important food source for ladybirds, hoverflies and birds such as sparrows, which will keep numbers of aphids in check so they don't become a problem.

• How to make a scarecrow

• Buy horticultural fleece from Dobies, Crocus and Thompson and Morgan

Warm the soil and force early crops

Cover beds with cloches or black plastic to warm the soil for early sowings. Encourage an early crop of strawberries in early summer by covering a row or two with a cloche. You can continue to force rhubarb, too, by covering it with a forcer or upturned dustbin or bucket. Need a new cloche? We've chosen a range of different styles in our roundup of the best garden cloches.

• Buy rhubarb forcers from Crocus, Water Butts Direct and Etsy

Feed brassicas and fruit

Feed cabbages and other brassicas with pelleted chicken manure or other nitrogen-rich fertiliser. You could also feed fruit trees and bushes, including cherries and plums.

• Buy plant feed from Crocus, Amazon and Suttons

Order or buy young veg plants

Buy trays of young veg plants that you don't have the time or space to grow from seed, either by mail order or look for them at the garden centre.

Sow seeds

Sow beetroot, broad beans, salads and Swiss chard direct into well-prepared soil. You could also make early sowings of carrots, peas, spinach and radishes if the soil is warm enough. You can also start off aubergines, chillies and peppers, plus tomatoes, under cover. Get started with our guide to peat free composts.

• Buy vegetable seeds from Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Suttons

Get planting

March is the last month for planting bare-root fruit trees and bushes. You can also plant bare-root strawberry runners, asparagus crowns and Jerusalem artichokes and plant out garlic, shallots and onion sets. If you like to plan ahead, find out about allotment jobs for April in our seasonal guide.

• Buy bare-root strawberry runners and fruit bushes from Crocus
• Buy bare-root fruit trees from Crocus and Suttons
• Buy bare-root asparagus crowns from Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
• Buy shallots and onion sets from Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
• Buy garlic from Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Suttons