You still need to wait a few weeks to sow hardy annuals outside, but if, like me, you are itching to get going, you can start them off in pots or seed trays on a windowsill or in a greenhouse, then plant them out in the spring when the risk of frost has passed.
Plotting a perfect cottage garden: Nothing beats a riot of colour - here's what you should do now Cottage garden flowers never go out of style and are easy to grow, with a simple charm.
If you sow the seeds between now and the end of March, you will have a profusion of colourful flowers by late spring and summer.
No cottage garden is complete without sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus), in shades ranging from creamy white to pastel pink to deep blue.
Sow seeds into damp, free-draining compost and keep in a warm place until the seedlings are big enough to handle.
