Spring is just around the corner, and it's time for enthusiasts to dust off their gloves and get ready for planting season.

Tomatoes are a key crop to start with now, promising juicy rewards come summer, though they can be a bit tricky to cultivate. Monty Don has dished out his top tips for a bountiful tomato harvest: he recommends sowing in two goes – an initial batch in February followed by another later in the year as a safety net against unpredictable .

On his website, Monty advises: "I like to sow tomatoes in two batches, the first in February and another in March or even April both to stagger the harvest and as an insurance against bad weather."

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He continues: "I scatter the seed thinly on the surface of peat-free compost in a seed tray and then very lightly covering them either with a layer of more compost or of vermiculite." And don't forget to water generously and keep them cosy for germination, he adds.

For those without a greenhouse, late March is your cue to plant outdoors, but if you're starting inside, aim for late February and keep those pots on a sunny windowsill, ensuring they're well-covered to ramp up humidity. Once those little green shoots pop up, it's all about maximum light exposure to give them the best shot at thriving, reports .

To ensure your tomato seedlings thrive, they need plenty of bright light. Without it, they'll grow weak, produce less fruit and be more susceptible to disease. Monty advised: "When the seedlings emerge make sure that they have as much light as possible."

Once the tomato seedling sprouts its first true leaves - the second set after their seed leaves - it's time to move them to larger containers. Monty explained: "When they develop their first pair of 'true' leaves - that is to say leaves, however small, that are recognisably a tomato rather than the ones that grow initially.

"You know that they have roots and should be pricked out into better compost and individual pots or plugs to grow on into young plants ready to plant out in May."

It's crucial to plan ahead so your tomato seedlings have enough space, warmth and sunlight to guarantee a generous harvest later in the summer.