Hi, Ida,
We all had a rubbish year, for starters last season, do not get put off.
Also, experience will show itself.
1) I still have sprouts in the ground from last year, these are about 18" high and seem to have survived okay. Do i now dig these up? Ive not had a single sprout off them!
If they have small sprouts forming in the leaf nodes, apply some pelleted chicken manure, hoe it in and hope for best. If there is nothing still on them forming I'd say, forget it, harvest the leafy tops, use as cabbage and compost the rest.
2) Likewise cabbages, ive about 10 small ones still growing (i think). If i leave these until better weather will they grow larger or is it better to plant new?
Do the same and don't dispear, they should do something in the spring.
3) My 15 broadbeans i planted in december seem very flimsy in the wind, do i pile soil up the base of them to make them more secure or try to replant them deeper?
If you did not plant deep enough earth up till the first leaves.
4) I seem to get an average of everything. No sprouts, mediocre cabbages, medium to small carrots. The only succesful things were broad beans, tomatoes, peppers and cucumber. My onions rotted almost the day after i planted them! Im kind to the veg, ive manured, fish boned and dug till im sore. The soil is well drained and weed free. This time around i want to get it right before i start so can anyone offer some tips?
First years on a new plot, can mean too much weeding and digging no time to look after what got planted. It will get better.
When did you plant said onions, please?
And the carrots, what variety were they and when they got sown, suppose you sowed them in situ.
5) Can i compost tomato plants or should i burn them due to risk of disease? Should i put all available compost into the borders or leave some to help rot the rest?
If you had no disease, you can happily compost them.
6) Should i start planting out now? (March 0Cool
depends what and as the weather is, not much really...
7) Is there any difference in the seed 'manufacturers' any brand better than others?
Personal preference. They all need to adhere to certain quality rules, so all the common and big names are Ok, some have more choice, some are cheaper than others.