Vegetables

• Regularly check all stored crops and remove any that show signs of decay.
• If seakale is grown, clear around the crowns of debris and lightly prick over the soil in readiness for forcing.
• If chicory is grown, lift some roots and take into a warm dark place for forcing.
• Check over tall growing brassicas, such as Brussels sprouts, kale and sprouting broccoli, they may require staking if you not already done so.
• Whenever the soil is dry enough carefully hoe through rows of over-wintering veg like onions, garlic, and spring cabbage.

• Check over stored dahlia tubers, gladioli corms and similar for rot or rodent damage. Remove any that are damaged.
• Dead-head winter bedding to prolong the display.
• Where young shoots for spring bulbs are already showing through, keep well weeded.

• Clear any debris from rhubarb beds, and source some fresh manure for forcing early next month. Keep turning the fresh manure for a few weeks.
• Continue to prune fruit trees, especially apples and pears.
• Outdoor figs may require some protection in the form of fleece or straw screening to protect the young growth and immature figs. 

Greenhouse

• Keep an eye on plants that are being overwintered in greenhouses, vent the house carefully on days where the sun shines, never too much that the temperature drops drastically, but just to allow for the air to circulate and rid the inside atmosphere of excess moisture.
• Check over overwintering plants often, removing dead material to prevent fungal problems.
• This is a great time to thoroughly clean greenhouses, polytunnels and cold frames with warm soapy water and a little disinfectant.
• If grapes are grown, they can now be pruned, reducing all fruiting laterals to two or three buds from the main rod.