In December it is time to prepare part of the soil in your garden for future sowing, but also to think about which varieties to choose for sowing in this month, so as to be able to guarantee a good harvest later. In the month of December the garden can still offer many gifts, to be harvested before the frosts.
Don’t forget to follow the moon phases and check the calendar for full moon days. You will discover that immediately after Christmas will be the right time to dedicate yourself to collection of aromatic herbs to dry.
What to sow in December
In December it is possible to sow what can be harvested in the following months, paying particular attention to frosts. If their arrival is expected, it is advisable to choose to sow in seedbeds, sheltered flowerbeds, boxes or tunnels. Protected sowing in colder areas is especially recommended for radishes, aubergines and chicory, lettuce and cut radicchiowhile it is possible to sow vegetables such as peas, spinach and broad beans directly in the open ground.
In December it is possible to sow:
Sowing tips
Sowing in open ground is advisable especially in regions with milder climates, as frosts can ruin young shoots. It is possible to make sowing in seedbeds, in boxes or in protection tunnels, so that the seeds can develop so that they are protected from frost. Recycled containers, even plastic ones, are perfect for the seedbed, to prick the bottom. If you plan to sow or transplant into pots, it is best to prefer the terracotta to plasticso that the seedlings suffer as little as possible.
The harvest of the month of December
Depending on how much has been sown in the previous months and the arrival of the frosts, the harvest may be more or less rich. A particularly cold-resistant vegetable is the Tuscan black cabbagefor which it is usually advisable to wait for the first frost to harvest, in order to obtain better vegetables. Depending on the climatic zones they can be harvested persimmons, citrus fruits (mandarins, tangerines, oranges, grapefruits) and olives. The December vegetable garden will be able to offer you, among other things:
Variety to be transplanted in December
In December it can be done transplanting of trees and shrubs and, as regards the vegetable garden, we can take care of ittransplant the garlic and onion bulbsit shallots and asparagus. It is also possible to perform de transplantationartichokes, choosing boxes or flowerbeds shelter in areas where the winter is not at all mild.
Vegetable garden on the balcony in December
In December, those who have a vegetable garden on their balcony will still be able to have various vegetables available, depending on how much they sow, such as cut lettuce, rocket and aromatic herbsamong which it is possible to find rosemary, oregano, sage and parsley. Ornamental cabbages should be harvested before frost arrives. It is advisable protect the seedlings from frost present in the pots with the appropriate non-woven fabric sheets. Aromatic herbs and cutting vegetables fear frost and need to be protected especially at night, with sheets that can be removed during sunny days.
How to use compost even in winter
Even in winter, composting can continue without interruptions, but with a few extra precautions. Low temperatures slow down the decomposition process, but do not stop it. You can speed this up by adding nitrogen-rich materials, such as fresh kitchen scraps (vegetables, fruit) or freshly cut grass, which help raise the temperature inside the composter. Furthermore, keeping the compost well mixed and aerated is essential to prevent it from becoming too compact and developing unpleasant odors. Using the compost obtained in spring to enrich the garden soil will be an excellent basis for healthy plant growth.
How to protect seedlings from the cold
When winter hits, it is essential to adopt some protection measures for the plants most sensitive to the cold. One of the simplest and most effective solutions is the use of winter sheets or agri-fabrics, which protect crops from night frosts without preventing the passage of light. Greenhouses or small tunnel structures, even DIY ones, can offer further protection, creating milder microclimates and allowing the cultivation of more delicate vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage or spinach. If you grow plants in pots, it is useful to move them to more sheltered places, such as balconies or verandas, or wrap them in insulating materials to protect them from cold temperatures.
Work in the garden according to the lunar calendar
Waxing Moon: with the crescent moon it is suggested to carry out the sowing radisheswhich can be carried out directly in the open ground if the climate is not too harsh, otherwise you will have to equip yourself with a protection tunnel. Radishes can also be sown in pots, to be placed in the most sheltered area of the garden, balcony or terrace.
The waxing moon will be from December 2nd to December 14th and December 31st.
Waning Moon: when the moon is waning it is suggested to sow spinach, lamb’s lettuce, lettuce cutting, cutting radicchio, as well as carrying out the necessary work to prepare the soil for what will be sown in spring, starting to think about fertilizing if there have not already been frosts. Transplanting artichokes should be carried out on a waning moon. With the waning moon the trees are pruned, avoiding frosty days so as not to damage the plants.
The moon will be waning from December 16th to 29th.
Full Moon: with the full moon they are harvested medicinal and aromatic herbs that you will want to proceed with dryingwith particular reference to sage and rosemary, thyme and oregano, as well as bay leaves. We also dedicate ourselves to fertilizing trees and pruning apple and pear trees. Radishes can be sown both with the waxing moon and with the full moon, a period in which it is also advisable to sow peas outdoors. The full moon will be on December 15th.
