5 quick jobs

1 Make the most of overwintered leeks, Swiss chard and perpetual spinach because they will run to flower as spring temperatures rise.

2 If you wrapped up your fig tree with straw, fleece or similar, now is the time to begin unwrapping it, as buds burst and leaves unfurl.

3 Herbaceous perennial herbs like oregano, mint and lemon balm will be coming into growth, so trim back last year’s stems with secateurs.

4 If you’ve been forcing clumps of rhubarb, remove forcing pots now. Pull forced stalks when 9-12in (2330cm) long. Allow plants to rest by not pulling more stalks until next year.

5 The secret to annual weed control is to keep hoeing over beds, so do this on sunny, breezy days to decapitate nuisance plants before they take hold.