As you are sipping your red or white wine around the table on Christmas Day spare a thought for the growers of the grapes who have slaved away in the vineyards all year round tending to the vines every need making sure they get the best harvest possible.

If you have a vine the main pruning time is done in December with pinching out of new shoots and training carried out in the spring and summer.

The pruning method for indoor and grapes grown against walls and over pagodas is called the ‘rod and spur’ system. Cut back the main stem (the ‘rod’) by two thirds and the side branches to one strong bud. In the second year reduce the main stem by half, cutting to a bud on mature brown wood and cut back side shoots to 2.5cm (1”) or to two strong buds.

While you’re at it prune Acers or Birches before Christmas as well as they can suffer with heavy bleeding if done any other time which can weaken the trees.

Brussels sprouts if you dare

Love them or hate them you can’t deny that Christmas wouldn’t be the same without sprouts.

I personally am a sprout lover and now I have fully netted my veg patch, I am rewarded with the joy of picking a whole stalk of sprouts at Christmas whereas before then they were merely a feast for bug and bird!

I am always amazed at quite how long the growing period is for them with the planting of seeds in March/April, transplanting to a sheltered, sunny site preferably in full sun in May to early June, leaving 2ft between plants and 2.5 ft between rows. Top dress with chicken manure pellets in July.

Mound soil around the base in September this helps support the plants. The flavour is improved after the sprouts have been subjected to a frost and it is definitely worth the wait!