Start flowers in the greenhouse now 'for early plants'

16:31 11th January 2011

Planting flowers such as begonias and pelargoniums in a warm greenhouse has been named as one of the top things to do in the garden this week.

Sowing seeds of this type now, including lobelias and salvias, can help to provide early plants, the Shropshire Star reports.

The newspaper also recommended restocking bird feeders and baths on a regular basis at this time of year to make sure feathered friends do not go without in the cold.

Another tip for the week was to check pots to make sure they are not too try and water them if necessary.

Finally, "check winter pansies for downy mildew and black spot and remove any showing signs of the diseases", the article added.

TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh recently suggested in his column for the Daily Express that gardeners should get out into their outside space in spite of the cold to set everything up perfectly for spring.