Spring blossom trees can be planted now. Choose from Crabapple, Flowering peach, pear, plum, cherry, almond and Taiwan Cherry.

Magnolias are flowering now, available for planting.

Spring vegetables for planting include spinach, rocket, tomatoes, rhubarb (seedlings), aubergine, capsicum, carrots, onions, potatoes.

Plant beans in the spring after all danger of frost has passed.

In these last few weeks of winter you can plant: deciduous shade and fruit trees, roses, grapes, wisteria, citrus, magnolias, figs, Australian native plants, herbs, vegetables.

Flowers including: Polyanthus, Alyssum, Cineraria, Salvia, Primula, Wallflower, Nemesia, Poppies, Lobelia, Marigold, Cosmos, Sweet Pea, Cyclamen, Pansy.

All the summer bulbs can still go in now Gladioli, hippeastrum, liliums and tuberoses.

In the vegie patch cabbages, caulies, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, herbs, mint thyme, parsley, still too early for tomato plants but sow tomato seeds in protected shed or veranda. Rhubarb crowns (we love varities 'Ever red' and 'Silvan Giant'), potato tubers (again buy named varieties) asparagus crowns and strawberries are available at this time of year.

Vegetables: Plant lettuce, silverbeet, ‘Sugar Bowl’ cabbage, Broccoli ‘Magic Dragon’, beetroot, rocket, Oriental Combo.

Herbs: Lemon verbena, coriander, parsley, sage, spearmint, rosemary, thyme, chives, pennywort.

Step 1: Buy a packet of cress seeds.

Step 2: Mix seeds with a little sand, this will ensure they don't germinate too closely.

Step 3: Ask the child to make out their name with a stick.

Step 4: Spread seed/sand mixture over letters.

Step 5: Water lightly and in 3 days you will see the name sprout.

Cut and eat in salads of in sandwiches. Kids without gardens could grow their own name on a plate with moist cotton wool instead or in a pot filled with fine seedling mix.