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risk I'm less used to.I spent most of last week running around the vegetable patch trying to protect my crops from the scorching sun. To create a little shade I made newspaper tents, pinned twigs and paper to the tops of net-covered raised bed frames

them well watered in dry weather.Clean straw or synthetic mulch fabricProtective nettingSeep hose (optional)April - June 20 minutesharvest from June to JulyWeed around your strawberry plants and remove any dead or dying leaves. Lift the foliage

Watch Chris Beardshaw's video demonstration on how to protect cordyline plants over the winter months, including tips on protecting against wet weather and strong, cold winds.October-NovemberMore advice on protecting plants over winterHow to protect

Learn how to give frost-tender plants the best chance of surviving the winter, by following Rachel de Thame's video advice, with tips on watering and where to store plants.October-NovemberMore on protecting plants over winterHow to protect tender

Learn about the different techniques for protecting cannas and gingers over winter, with Chris Beardshaw's video advice on covering them in the border or lifting and storing them indoors.October-NovemberMore advice on caring for cannas and gingers

Banana plants need plenty of wrapping in winter to keep them warm. Without protection, the cold weather will decimate them and they'll have to grow from scratch in spring. A little extra effort will ensure thriving bananas that bring tropical cheer

or conservatory to plant outdoors again next season. SecateursBamboo canesStringHorticultural fleece or bubble polytheneStrawChicken wireLarge flower pot or crateBark chippings mid-October - early December 20 minutes per plantProtect palms by tying in the leaves

squashed.I’ve developed a very cost-efficient system of protecting the young daffs from destruction. I take a handful of bamboo canes and some bright orange baler twine. I drive the short bamboo canes into the edges of the drive and tie the twine

of sweet-yet-tangy strawberries every couple of days. Although they seem totally unaffected by the cold, I’ve protected some of them with a fleece-covered tunnel. Having seen the number of unripe strawberries, I simply couldn’t help myself.The greenhouse

Despite summer drought in my part of the East Midlands, my apple crop has been pretty good on most trees, but there’s just one problem. A much larger proportion of fruit than ever before has been pecked on the tree itself, resulting in small holes that soon lead to rotting.Now, I...