Fiann’s tips for the weekend

* Chit early and main crop potatoes. If already chitted, plant them, (St Patrick’s Day is traditionally the deadline).

* Hand pollinate any soft fruits (ie strawberries) growing under cloches or cover, as bees may not have access. An artist’s brush will do the trick.

* Trench preparation can commence for rhubarb, asparagus and potato planting this month but also for runner beans, perennial spinach, cardoon, globe artichoke and celery planting in the coming months.

* Line trenches with manure/compost and cover with a length of weed control membrane until planting time and when the time comes, plant through membrane.

* Rhubarb, chicory and seakale can be readied to force. An upturned pot works as well as an expensive forcer

* If you have had a site infested with cleavers or other weeds since last year then raking over the bed now often brings seeds to germination depth and a second rake, or hoeing a few weeks later, post germination, will agitate, dislocate and kill off

* Consider creating a compost heap, wormery or other means of free compost for improved garden fertility.

* Consider weed stations — buckets spaced about to fill with weeds as you go. They have the additional benefit of trapping pests too, especially if you add a base layer of beer. Periodically empty. The end sludge will add to the compost.

n Consider feeders and nest boxes for birds you wish to attract, but remember some birds will eat your seedlings. So be judicious and follow the next step …

n Garden-ready your plot for the arrival of birds that may pick more seedlings than grubs.

* Check out http://www.gromor.ie/  for some expert tips, how-to videos and comps to get you growing more.