JOBS for the week

Tall perennials are shooting up, so put in stakes or supports to help show off their blooms and prevent them bending over or snapping.

Plants grown in containers will benefit from a spring refresh – remove an inch or so off the top bit of compost so you can replace with fresh. Keep fed fortnightly and well watered.

In the veg garden, lucky asparagus and rhubarb growers will be harvesting the fruits of their labour – harvest asparagus spears before they get too tall.

Aphids and greenflies are now visible… check plants especially roses for any infestations and remove what you see by hand. You can also use organic pest sprays which are natural fatty acid mixtures that destroy the insects – or make up a very dilute soapy mixture yourself.

Make a simple homemade fungicide by adding baking powder to water and spray on roses to prevent mildew and black spot.

Sow lettuce, carrots, radish and spring onions at fortnightly intervals for plentiful salad ingredients throughout the summer.

Check lilies for scarlet lily beetles and remove by hand – otherwise you may be left with ragged foliage. They’re crafty and tend to hop off when they see you coming so cup one hand beneath to catch them!

Are your dahlia tubers ready for planting out? Depending on your region, you will be frost free now or shortly.