■ A maximum-minimum thermometer is an essential piece of kit in the greenhouse or polytunnel and is something that should be used and checked all year round. It records the highest and lowest temperature over a given period, allowing you to monitor temperatures, adjust the heating at night or ventilate during the day if needed. It also helps when regulating propagators or heaters to maintain the correct temperature.
■ Have a check around to make sure that all gutters and downpipes are working properly and, if connected to a water butt, make sure the diverter in the downpipe isn’t blocked with rotten leaves and moss.