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There’s something wonderfully irrational about clearing snow in order to dig up vegetables. One of our Christmas rituals is to leave the wrapping paper behind and take a walk to the allotment on Christmas day to harvest some parsnips. I don’t know

through my Seasonal Checklist…1. Wrap pots or bring insideI’ve lost count of the number of terracotta pots I’ve lost in recent years that have been cracked and damaged by frost. To avoid adding more to the tally I’m emptying any not in use and storing them

Prune suckers away from the base of ornamental treesCollect hoses, sprinklers and other watering equipment to store in the shed over winterProtect glazed pots from frost damage by wrapping up or bringing into a shedOrder bare-root roses for planting

Insulate your greenhouse with a layer of bubble wrap and give your plants a helping hand through winter. Your greenhouse will have fewer draughts and will also benefit from lower bills if you use a heater during the very cold months.Measuring tape

seed mixed with compost on to lawns to thicken growthPrune suckers away from around the base of ornamental treesProtect large ceramic or glazed pots from frost damage by wrapping them in bubble polytheneOrder bare-rooted roses for planting in autumnWrap

Used in gardening to refer to the technique of excluding light from the stem and/or leaves of plants, in order to reduce the green chlorophyll they contain. The technique may involve wrapping plants with paper collars (as for celery), earthing up

old plants from beds and bordersWrap tender plants, such as olives and palms, to give them extra weather protection

banana plantsHow to wrap a banana plant for winter.Checking bananas for frost damage.Choose fruit varieties to grow in your gardenView a selection of tender perennials

to replace themCover productive areas of herbs and salads with cloches for protectionSow hardy peas under clochesWrap grease bands around the trunks of fruit trees to protect them from winter moths

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