Should we follow the calendar or the weather?�

Global warming, or not, this February has been warm & plants have started to grow early.

Traditionalists tell us we will have frosts in March so wait.

But watch the forecasts, or use the web - http://www.metcheck.com�

Start planting & take precautions if frost is expected - cover the plants with fleece, evergreen branches - anything to trap warm air (like a string vest) & keep� the frost� off.

Wet soil is a problem because it is damaged when touched; it looses structure. Cover soil to stop the rain soaking it. But take the covers off when there is a drying rain.

To keep the rain off, cover with:

• cloches
• plastic sheet
• tin sheet
• anything waterproof that will not blow away