Test your soil temperature

A lot of seeds won’t germinate below around 7C(44F) in the soil, so you can check to see what temperature yours is now. You can buy soil thermometers from all well-stocked garden centres. To speed up the warming process before you start sowing properly, you can use cloches and sheeting to help it along – this will mean the soil is at the perfect temperature for when you want to get going with direct sowing in a few weeks!