RHS: Why you should ask Santa for a greenhouse

As gardeners prepare their letters to Santa Claus, some may consider asking him for a greenhouse for Christmas.

Those who grow their own food, flowers or plants will know that it can be one of the most enjoyable things in life.

Watching the seeds you have planted grow into something substantial can instil a real sense of satisfaction.

But the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has warned that some foods and plants wont take too kindly to a UK winter and that it can make sense to protect more sensitive plants by placing them in a greenhouse.

"Good planning in autumn and extra protection in cold spells should help ensure a tasty harvest of crops such as broad beans and garlic, ready for enjoying during early spring," the RHS advises.

A greenhouse can also provide a sheltered and controlled environment in which to grow young plants from seed before transplanting outdoors.