Main-crop potatoes are ready for harvesting when the leaves turn yellow-brown and the stems begin to wither and die down. Wait until a dry, sunny day, then lift the tubers out of the ground with a garden fork. Leave them to dry for a few hours, then rub off the excess soil. If the potatoes are for storing, remove any damaged or diseased ones and keep the rest in a cool, dark, frost-free shed.

Daffodil and narcissus bulbs should be planted this month. For the best results, select a sunny or lightly shaded spot with a reasonably fertile, welldrained soil and bury the bulbs about 6in deep and 4in-6in apart. These plants are also perfect for naturalising in grassy areas - simply scatter the bulbs over the ground and plant them where they fall. Using a long-handled planter makes life easier, as it removes a core of soil to the correct depth. Once you’ve put a bulb in the hole, the core can be dropped back on top.

In exposed gardens, tender plants (container-grown citrus fruits, for example) that have spent the summer months outdoors should be moved back under cover into a greenhouse or conservatory before the onset of cold, frosty weather. Sir Roy Strong, Xa Tollemache and Kenneth Cox will speak at Scotland’s Gardens Scheme autumn lecture at the Albert Halls, in Stirling, on Tuesday. Tickets £45. Call 01360 770215. The head gardener leads a tour at Painswick Rococo Garden, near Stroud, Gloucestershire, on Wednesday, 2pm-5pm. Call 01452 813204 or visit www.rococogarden.org.uk . There will be a Mediterranean Weekend at Hever Castle gardens, near Edenbridge, Kent, on Saturday and Sunday, 11am-6pm. Call 01732 865224 or visit www.hevercastle.co.u k.

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