March is well known for its variety of weathers, and this year is really proving the rule.

Our apricot tree blossom is just beginning to emerge, and buds are tentatively opening on the fruit trees at last, but in just a week they have had to contend with frost, sleet, warm sun and wind. Robustness is definitely the key to survival in March soil.

Broad beans, Jerusalem artichokes and asparagus crowns are all stalwart contenders here; anything more tender needs to wait a while yet, or get going indoors.

Some gardeners suggest putting in potatoes as soon as you can, rather than chitting them indoors first. Geoff Hamilton used to recommend this, and Pippa Greenwood, too – both very wise gardeners. On the strength of their advice, I may try it this year, although my instinct tells me that a month of potential non-growth in damp soil brings a slew of risks, including pest chomping and mould – risks that outweigh the bonus of a slightly earlier harvest.

Similarly, if you have an area of soil covered up with plastic or polythene so that it warms up a little, then this could be ready for the first sowings of spring onions, lettuce, radish and rocket or carrots, parsnips, peas and early beetroot if you decide it's really time to get going.

Otherwise, it's prudent to be thinking about pruning. Cane fruits, fig trees, blueberries and trained fruit trees all benefit from some careful pruning and retraining as necessary. "Thickets" of last year's new growth on cane fruits can be spread out to make a bit more room for this year's fruit. Gooseberries, too, can have last year's new growth shortened by about a third, and sideshoots from main stems can be cut back to about three buds, an easy rule of three to remember.

If the autumn fruiting raspberries haven't been cut back already, then now's the time to be cutting the canes back down to the ground. All of these newly pruned specimens will then really benefit from a feed and a mulch to give them the best possible start towards summer bounty.

If your allotment or veg garden is still at the planning stage, then here's an early notice of two very interesting events happening in Bristol next weekend. A cornucopia of seed potatoes, vegetable and herb seeds, including heritage varieties, onion sets, garlic and shallots, bulbs and other kitchen garden essentials will all be available for Seedy Saturday on March 21 at St Stephen's Church cafe and gardens off Corn Street from 10.30am until 3.30pm. It's free entry and a few different local gardening organisations will be there offering gardening advice as well as plant and seed sales.

Next Saturday, too, St Werburgh's city farm is hosting a celebration of local people's history called Through The Tunnel with story walks, a history and conservation trail and lantern procession between 2pm and 7.30pm. For more information, call Sophie Bull on 01179 428241 or Eileen Haste on 01179 078369.