Jobs on the allotment in December

Discover wildlife gardening jobs for December.

There are plenty of crops to harvest in December, some of which could be destined for festive plates. It's also a brilliant time to plant bare-root fruit.

If it's too cold to go outside, you could also stay in and plan your plot for next year.

• What to plant in December

Here are some key allotment jobs for December.

Harvest veg

You can harvest lots of veg for Christmas plates, including parsnips, leeks and winter cabbages, all of which can be left in the ground until you need them. It's difficult to harvest crops from frozen soil, so if temperatures plummet, cover the soil with straw. Harvest Brussels sprouts when they are around one inch in diameter, before they 'blow open'. Pick them from the base of the plant up, twisting them away from the plant. If you have grown potatoes for Christmas, they should be ready now.

Winter prune

December is a good month to winter prune apple and pear trees to control their shape and size, and to increase their productivity. You can also prune blackcurrants, gooseberries, redcurrants and whitecurrants this month.

Net brassicas

Keep kale, winter cabbages and other brassicas covered with netting to protect them from hungry pigeons. Remove any yellowed leaves, so that fungal diseases such as grey mould and downy mildew don't take hold.

Plant bare-root fruit

December is a great time to plant bare-root canes, bushes and trees - you can find them at the garden centre, but for the best selection, buy online. Discover how to plant a bare-root fruit tree.

If it's cold and dark outside, why not stay in and plan next year's veg plot? Consider what went well this year - and what didn't - and think about rotating your crops. Watch Monty's video guide to crop rotation. You can also order next year's seeds.

Divide rhubarb

It's not too late to lift and divide large clumps of rhubarb, replanting the outer sections into soil enriched with well-rotted manure. Alternatively, select a large clump to force for an early crop next spring.