Here is a list of jobs to do in your fruit and vegetable garden in December:

• Harvest kale, leeks, Brussels sprouts and winter salads while they are in their prime
• Plant garlic
• Plant broad peas and hardy peas if the weather is mild
• Turn your compost heap, chop up any large pieces of plant material you find to speed up the decay
• Prepare the soil for next year by adding well-rotted compost or manure. This can be dug in or left on the surface as a mulch
• Keep an eye out for pests and diseases. Slugs shelter during the day under planks and stones and amongst plants. Try and catch them before they come out at night to gobble up your plants
• Protect brassica from pigeons with nets
• Prune apple and pear trees (do not prune stone fruit such as plums and cherries now as it makes them susceptible to silver leaf fungus)
• Prune soft fruit
• Plant new fruit trees and bushes