If there is such a thing as a great time for weeding this is it. The winter has worked on the soil, the ice expanding and contracting freeing and breaking up the soil.

This action makes those weeds, and their roots, easier to extract. So when you are tugging away you can ease out the whole root thus stopping the weed from growing back. It's noticeable at winter and early spring, how much more easily the weeds come away. Good time to clear the borders before spring growth.

Time to mulch and feed to kick off the garden.

Keep chitting potatoes and seeding plants. Also plants which need a long growing season such as chilli and tomatoes are good to seed now. For tips on growing your own veg. Even though it's only February there's good gardening to be had.

As sometimes happens in February, a mild spell with temperatures around 9 or 10 degrees and so a chance to spend a few hours in the garden.

The Sunday Gardener's favourite job at this time of year is weeding out the perennial weeds. They seem to pull out easier at this time of year and with the earth so bare they are easier to spot to try and get the plot off to a weed free start to the season.

There are a few jobs which can be tackled on these milder days and there are some suggestions in The Sunday Gardener's Calendar for February.

Its great to see buds on the trees and shrubs even if it will be weeks before they break out it's a great reminder that spring is on it's way.

The Sunday Gardener has finally parted with the cash and purchased a paraffin greenhouse heater. Said to produce warmth and moisture the idea is to extend the growing season, even out day and night temperatures and keep the plants snug.

Maybe this year the Squashes will reach a decent size and The Sunday Gardener will blog whether the heater makes a difference, how much and if it was worth the cost......I got it from www.greenhousepeople.co.uk called Parasene Big Red paraffin  heater - so watch this space to see how it does over the coming growing season.

But my sweet peas are tucked up in the warm on the heated propagation mat slowly starting to germinate.

It's inexplicable why sowing a few sweet peas should be exciting, but it is. A sign of spring, reminder of the summer to come, back into the garden after the long winter, its just great.

Sweet peas are very easy to grow from seed and you can pick the best colours and fragrances. In addition to the lovely pastel shades this year The Sunday Gardener is also growing some deep blue and zesty orange more of which around June time, all being well.

For tips on sowing and growing sweet peas see link: main point to remember. Sweet Peas have long roots which don't like to be disturbed, they are an exception to the potting on rule where small seeds and plants are started in small pots and moved on. Sweet Peas need to be in deep containers, root trainers or loo roll holders do well as they need around 10cms for the roots. If you sow them in the right container you will get off to a good start.

And as a reminder .......