- Despite the cold weather, you can get going with chitting first early potatoes such as 'Rocket' and 'Swift' over the next few weeks to give them a head start. Place each tuber in the compartment of an old egg tray and leave in a well-lit, cool but frost-free room. Plant out the sprouted tubers in March.
- For a harvest of tender young stems, established clumps of rhubarb can be forced this month. Clear away old leaves and debris from around a plant crown, place a few handfuls of dry straw over the top, then cover with a terracotta rhubarb forcer (henandhammock.co.uk has them for £90) - a large upturned bucket with no drainage holes in the base works as well, although it is not as attractive. The forced stems will be ready for picking in 6-8 weeks' time.
- Treat garden canes and stakes in storage with wood preservative to prolong their lives - cleaning and treating the ends that will be pushed into the ground is quickest.