Last winter saw many terracotta plant pots bite the dust. But those from Kiltrea Bridge Pottery in Wexford have fared better than most: they are fired at a higher temperature and for longer than imported pots, which makes them hardier.

These hand-thrown Irish beauties also come with a five-year guarantee, so if frost shatters them, you get a replacement. (Keeping the compost dry-ish during cold weather helps avoid disaster.) The workshop’s annual sale is a much-anticipated event for those looking for bargains. Prices are around 20 to 40 per cent off retail, with a few even greater reductions. Traditional five-inch pots (perfect for alpines and auriculas), usually €11.95, are now €5; the elegant jumbo lattice pots are reduced from €105 to €75. Hard-to-find rhubarb forcers and seakale pots are a speciality here. The sale is from April 1st-6th, 10am-5.30pm each day, except on Easter Sunday (April 4th), when it is from 2-5 pm. Kiltrea Bridge Pottery, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, kiltreapottery.com, 053-9235107.