Fiann Ó Nualláin's tips for gardening

* Between flooding, the new storm season and the too-cold-to-move-your-fingers weather, many of us are lagging behind. But no harm, the garden will catch up.

So weed removal and preparing seed beds or composting/manuring plots for crops is a good start.

* That said, be diligent on the last- chance front – this weekend is traditionally the absolute last chance to winter prune, (that includes apples, pears, red/white currants, gooseberries medlars and quinces and also autumn-fruiting raspberries).