Organic Gardening - what to sow in December

December brings cold and frost, but there's still plenty to do in the garden. This month, focus on improving soil, protecting tender plants, and sowing early-season crops under cover.

Flowering Plants

Flowering Plants

  • Sow hardy foxgloves indoors for early spring planting.
  • Sow lavender seeds indoors to start early.
  • Plant daffodil and tulip bulbs in pots for late-spring blooms.
  • Divide perennials like hellebores if the ground isnt frozen.
  • Check stored bulbs and tubers for signs of rot.
  • Protect roses with mulch around the base.
  • Plant cyclamen in pots to enjoy blooms from January to April.
  • Plant pots of pansies, viola and bellis for a lovely mixed display of winter flowers.

Vegetables

Vegetables

  • Sow onion seeds indoors for an early start.
  • Sow broad beans indoors for early spring planting.
  • Sow winter lettuce in cold frames or greenhouses.
  • Sow herb seeds like basil and parsley indoors.
  • Harvest winter greens like kale and spinach.
  • Store root crops like carrots and parsnips in a cool, dark place.
  • Check stored vegetables regularly for rot.
  • Sow pea seeds on a window sill and harvest the shoots for winter salads.

Fruit

Fruit

  • Plant bare-root fruit trees and bushes if the grounds not frozen.
  • Plant bare-root raspberries and blackberries.
  • Protect strawberries with straw mulch.
  • Propagate currant bushes from hardwood cuttings.
  • Check stored apples and pears for spoilage.
  • Clean and repair fruit cages.

General Garden Jobs

General Garden Jobs

  • Clean and organise gardening equipment.
  • Sharpen tools for spring.
  • Add organic matter to compost bins.
  • Spread compost on garden beds for nutrient enrichment.
  • Clean greenhouse surfaces and glass using a mild disinfectant.
  • Insulate greenhouse with bubble wrap if needed.
  • Place gravel around beds to improve drainage.

Pots & Containers

  • Bring frost-sensitive pots indoors or into a greenhouse.
  • Stop watering pots unless there's a very dry spell, to avoid waterlogging.
  • Add a layer of mulch to improve soil structure in pots.

Wildlife

  • Fill bird feeders with high-energy seeds and fat balls.
  • Create leaf piles to provide habitat for insects.
  • Install birdbaths and keep water unfrozen.

Pruning

  • Focus on pruning dormant trees and shrubs like apples, pears, and currants.
  • Remove damaged, diseased, or crossing branches to improve air circulation.
  • Use sharp, clean tools to avoid spreading disease.

Organic Gardening Tip: Add shredded leaves and garden clippings to your compost. A slow, natural breakdown during winter creates a nutrient-rich mulch for spring.

Sophie Essex

Written by: Sophie Essex, garden writer

Sophie Essex is a freelance garden writer with a passion for horticulture and environmental conservation. She's qualified with a BSc in Botany/Plant Biology from the University of Plymouth and a MSc in Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants from The University of Edinburgh.

Sophie has also worked as a professional gardener and landscaper, developing her practical skills at Cornwall's Eden Project, the National Trust for Scotland, and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.