Let nature do half the work

It's important to dig your vacant plot before the frosts set in.
That's because frost helps break down the big lumps of soil.
The wind and rain also help break up the soil.
The lumps expand when it rains, then the wind gets up and dries them out and they crumble.
Then it rains again and the cycle repeats.
Hopefully, if you've done your digging, all this will help you to get some fine top soil for the early spring, which is ideal for seeds and seedlings to come through.
So if you keep on top of your winter digging, the weather will do half your work for you.
It's also important at this time of year to keep your plot clean and clear away all the debris from stuff which has been growing over the summer.
That includes collecting all the dead leaves, which slugs can feed on.
Put them on the compost heap if you have one.
If you have any dock or dandelions growing make sure you dig out the roots with a trowel because if you just chop them off you will split the roots and three times as many will grow back.
November is also the time to be planting garlic.
Take a garlic bulb and break it into its segments, then plant the segments about one-and-a-half inches deep and between four and five inches apart.
You'll start to see the plants coming through in January.