{"id":275,"date":"2018-12-07T12:23:36","date_gmt":"2018-12-07T12:23:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.growseed.co.uk\/blog\/?p=275"},"modified":"2019-10-08T11:12:43","modified_gmt":"2019-10-08T11:12:43","slug":"what-to-do-in-the-december-garden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.growseed.co.uk\/blog\/what-to-do-in-the-december-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"What to do in the December Garden?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Predicting winter weather is as hard aspredicting summer weather in Britain, which makes it difficult to advise on jobs. We\u2019re pretty sure of seeing some hard frosts but those dreaming of a white Christmas are actually more likely to see a white Easter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plan ahead:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It might be frightful outside but that\u2019s anopportunity to plan what you\u2019re going to do next year. December & January are the traditional months for placing your seed orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keeping with brassicas, don\u2019t forget\nBrussels Sprouts. Start picking from the base upwards, leaving the smaller ones\nat the top to develop. I actually prefer sprouts as a frozen vegetable. Blanch\nfor 3 minutes prior to freezing. To use, defrost and then drop into a shallow\nlidded pan with melted butter, salt and ground black pepper. Keep moving in the\npan to avoid burning and serve when hot all through, a matter of a few minutes.\nDelicious!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leeks should now be ready, just take what\nyou need and leave the rest to stand until required. Leeks are much better\nharvested from the garden as they are required but in severe weather this can\nbe difficult, so you can lift a few and heel them in on well dug ground, this\nwill not freeze solid and will keep them fresh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Any carrots left should come up to prevent\npest damage in the ground for storage in damp sand or peat in the shed.\nParsnips and swedes can be lifted and stored the same way although they are\nvery hardy and may be left if the ground is not needed. You can always cover\nthem with fleece or straw to help stop the ground freezing them in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may well have perpetual spinach,celeriac, chicory (non-forcing and forcing varieties), endive, kale, kohl rabi,lettuce, winter radish, spinach, turnips available.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you planted winter cabbage, it should be well along by now. Cabbage planted in the late spring, depending on the variety, should befull formed and ready for eating. We planted January King both forsummer and for winter. Yum!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Tidy old perennials <\/strong>Cut back perennials that have turned to mush and don\u2019t offer\nanything in the way of prettiness or food for the birds. Cut back the decaying\nmaterial, chop it into small amounts and add it to the compost heap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plant fruit bushes <\/strong>If the soil isn\u2019t frozen, plant bare-root fruit bushes such as\ngooseberries, raspberries and blackberries. Dig a hole that can comfortably\ntake the plants roots without them having to be squashed. Make sure you label\nthe plants after planting, so you know which varieties you are growing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
was asked his favourite time of year in the\ngarden, he would always reply, \u201cNow.\u201d So forget hibernating until spring: dress\nfor the weather and get out into your garden or allotment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Help wildlife<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Resist the urge to tidy up. I\u2019m itching to\ncut back the unruly ivy in my garden, but I\u2019m holding back until spring,\nbecause right now it\u2019s providing valuable thick cover for wildlife: its flowers\nand berries are valuable winter food sources, too. Many creatures will be\nsheltering in leaf litter and the hollow stems of dead perennials. Hedgehogs\nshould be hibernating in drifts of dead leaves and log piles, so avoid\nstrimming or burning leaf piles. They may still venture out on mild evenings at\nthis time of year: leave dog or cat food, or mealworms, out as an extra food source.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take on a new allotment. Now is the ideal\ntime for clearing and preparing the ground for early planting and sowing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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