It's time to winter proof your patch

WORK NOW WILL PAY DIVIDENDS COME THE SPRING

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COLD snaps have arrived but cropping can still continue. Late November is perfect for establishing hardy staples, and planning steady pickings through winter and early spring. Focus on soil health first, then choose crops that relish the cool.

BED PREP THAT PAYS YOU BACK Clear any spent plants and remove weeds, roots and all. Fork in organic matter like farmyard manure or homemade garden compost to improve structure and drainage.

Avoid working saturated soil to prevent compaction. If you're leaving a bed to rest, cover it with cardboard and mulch to suppress winter weeds and conserve nutrients. Where fertility is low, sow green manures such as field beans in milder areas, then chop and mulch in spring.

PLANT NOW Plant garlic while soil is workable. Space cloves 15cm apart in rows 30cm apart. Choose reliable types such as 'Germidour' and hardneck 'Lautrec Wight', 2.5cm deep.