- To guarantee plenty of juicy strawberries this summer, I am going to put in some cold-stored runners this month. When planting them, select a sheltered, sunny spot, with reasonably fertile and moist but welldrained soil. Space them 12in to 15in apart – the “crowns” should be just above soil level. In mid- to late May, tuck fresh straw around the base of each plant, then lay the leaves and the flower and fruit trusses on top of the material. This will protect the developing fruits from damage. Cold-stored strawberry runners are available now from Ken Muir (01255 830181, www.kenmuir.co.uk).

- Bush roses, including hybrid teas and floribundas, can be pruned now. Start by removing all dead, diseased and damaged growth, as well as any stems that are weak and spindly, or causing overcrowding in the centre of the plants. Prune the remaining stems to about half their height, taking them back to outward-facing buds or young shoots.

- Summer spinach is a delicious and versatile vegetable. For a constant supply of succulent leaves, the seeds should be sown every few weeks from now until the end of May. A good variety to try is ‘Emilia’. Choose a sunny or partially shaded spot, with fertile, welldrained soil, and scatter the seeds in 1in-deep drills. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, thin them to 6in apart. During the main growing period, keep the area weed-free and do not let the soil dry out.

- In cold or exposed gardens, it is a good idea to leave the spent stems on hardy fuchsias during the autumn and winter months, as they will protect the plant crowns from harsh weather. In the early spring, these stems should be cut back to just above ground level, as this encourages healthy and compact new growth.

- Container-grown plants such as blueberries, cranberries, hostas and rhododendrons need plenty of moisture, especially in the summer months, and perform best when irrigated with collected rainwater – tap water can be too alkaline for these acid-loving plants. For this reason, check that water butts and downpipes are connected together properly. If necessary, give them a good clean. Gutters that lead to them should also be cleared of any debris. To prevent flying insects and airborne material contaminating the rainwater, always cover butts with a secure lid.

Beets, shoots and leaves– your questions answered

I have a south-facing wall with fairly dry, welldrained soil at the base. What fruit can I grow there?

O Marshall, by e-mail

The ideal fruits for planting against a warm, sunny wall are figs and outdoor grapes. Once established, both tolerate dry, free-draining soils, and the stems can be trained against horizontal support wires. The best figs to use are ‘Brown Turkey’ and ‘Brunswick’. The roots must be restricted in the ground. This is done by digging a 2ft x 2ft planting hole, lining the sides with vertical concrete slabs, then filling the hole with a mixture of excavated soil and well-rotted compost before planting the fig inside.

The most reliable outdoor grapes include ‘Regent’, which has sweet-tasting dark grapes, and ‘Phoenix’, for its bunches of golden fruit. Dig plenty of organic matter into the planting holes and surround the stem bases with a thick mulch.

Figs and outdoor grapes are self-fertilising, so only one plant is needed for a crop of fruit.

How do I grow Chinese artichokes?

K Moyes, by e-mail

This oriental plant produces small, spiral-shaped, pearl-coloured tubers that have a nutty taste and can be eaten raw or used in stir-fries.

For the best results, plant the tubers in mid-spring, 8in apart and 4in deep – a sunny spot and welldrained soil are essential. During the growing season, remove all weeds from the site and water the plants in dry weather.

The tubers are ready for harvesting from November onwards, when the leaves have died down – lift them out of the ground with a garden fork, but do this only in small batches, as they cannot be stored for long.

The tubers will survive in the open ground through the winter months and can be lifted as required.

In very cold gardens, however, it is worth covering the soil with a protective straw mulch. The following spring, dig over the entire site to remove the remaining tubers, otherwise they will resprout. It is always best to use fresh stock.

Chinese artichoke tubers are available by mail order from Marshalls Seeds (01480 443390, www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk).

Neil Wormald is a qualified horticulturalist. Send questions to Garden Expert, Home, The Sunday Times, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1ST, or e-mail garden.expert@sunday-times.co.uk

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