December Gardening: Your Monthly Garden Guide
Summer days and holidays…
We know summer is really here when the hydrangeas are covered in big, blousy heads of blooms! Roses will also be in full bloom in the lead up to Christmas. The hard yards put in over spring should now be paying dividends with the lawn lush and green, veggie patch producing tasty fresh crops, fruit trees showing evidence of luscious fruits ahead and the flower garden bursting with colour.
Of course, there are still some essential jobs to complete if the summer is going to be a blooming success. And yes, if that green thumb is getting itchy and you find yourself wondering what to grow in December, you’ll be pleased to know that there are plenty of options.
What to plant in December and other December gardening tips
This month, it’s all about enjoying fresh crops and flowers for summer festivities and making sure the garden is well watered during the warmer weather. Whether you want to know what to plant in December, which fruit and vegetables to sow (or harvest), or the flowers to pot, choose your favourite category below and check out our essential December gardening tips.
There's still plenty of heat loving crops to choose from when deciding what to plant in December! It's also a good idea to plant in pots and hanging planters to decorate outdoor living spaces. Keep an eye on the weather, though. If we have a particularly hot, dry month, you’ll need to water any newly planted seedlings regularly for the best chance of success.
Vegetables
December can be a busy time of year in the veggie patch. Whether you’re wondering what vegetables to plant in December, looking to harvest your flourishing crop, or just want to keep your vegetable garden ticking over, there’s plenty to keep you busy and enjoying your garden throughout the month.
What vegetables to plant in December
- Herbs such as parsley, basil, coriander and mint can be planted now – it can be a good idea to plant in pots over Summer, where they can be moved out of the sun and watered frequently if necessary.
- Leafy salad favourites, especially the “pick and come again” lettuces, can be planted out provided they are watered in well and given some shade until they’ve settled in.
- Seedlings of summer favourites and Asian greens may still be planted now into well prepared and fertilised soil. Add a long-term or slow release fertiliser and mix through the soil then moisten well a few days before planting.
- Staggering the plantings over many weeks will provide continuous cropping throughout summer. Check your local garden centre to see what other veggies are on offer.
The following vegetables can all be planted in December:
Basil, Beetroot, Beans, Capsicum, Carrot, Celery, Chilli, Coriander, Courgette, Cucumber, Eggplant, Leek, Lettuce, Mesclun, Parsley, Parsnip, Pumpkin and squash, Radish, Silverbeet, Spring onions, Sweetcorn, Tomatoes.
Growing vegetables in December
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December is typically when the weather starts getting really hot and dry, so make sure your vegetables get a good drink of water during dry spells.
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Make sure your tomatoes are getting plenty of water. Try to give them a thorough soaking every few days rather than a light spray daily and remember to water them early in the day, directly on to the soil – avoid wetting leaves because this could encourage diseases.
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Feed your vegetables and herbs regularly to keep them growing well.
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Potatoes for Christmas are just around the corner! Make sure to keep mounding potatoes as shoots grow.
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Train climbing crops like peas and beans up tripods or trellising to keep plants up off the ground and ensuring they don’t flop and break their stems.
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Hand pull or hoe out weeds as they appear – they compete for nutrients and moisture and may also harbour pests that could attack your crops.
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If birds are getting to your produce before it’s ripe enough to pick, consider building a bird netting cover. Use a mesh size of 5mm or less to prevent birds and animals being caught in it.
What vegetables to harvest in December
Many of the veggies planted or sown in through spring may start cropping during the month, some earlier than others. Pick what you need daily and rinse in clean water to remove dirt and dust before eating. Beans, lettuce, tomatoes, beetroot, spring onions, snap peas, silver beet, courgettes, cucumbers and sweet corn all taste better fresh from the garden.
Fruit
When considering what fruits to plant in December, it’s very much all about the strawberries. You can also do a little bit of fruit picking in December, but this month is mainly going to be about care and maintenance.
What fruit to plant in December
You can plant the following fruits directly into your garden in December: Strawberry, Blueberry, Passionfruit.
What fruit to harvest in December
- Strawberries and early cropping varieties of raspberries and blackberries all fruit in December, and the first of the passionfruit may turn purple and drop to the ground. Tropical fruits are still cropping in warmer areas, and melons are in season now too.
- The first of the stone fruits – cherries – ripen early in December. Later in the month, apricots will be ripe, followed by early season plums. Harvest gooseberries, currants, mulberry, blueberry, strawberries and other berries including boysenberries, blackberries and raspberries.
There are a few flowers that will take well to the soil in December but, for the most part, you’re likely to find that the time you spend in the garden this month is mostly focused on pruning your plants and thinning out your flowers.
Flowers and bulbs
If you’re looking for flowers that can be planted in December, then your best bet is likely to be perennials, though it’s a good last chance to get some annual flowers in the ground.
What flowers and bulbs to plant in December
Use advanced colour or bloomer pots or shrubby plants with trailing stems to plant up large tubs and voluptuous hanging baskets. Choose from: petunias, calibrachoas, impatiens, geraniums, fuchsias.
Continue planting gladiolus corms every two weeks until mid-December. They usually flower in about 60 days.
The following flowers and bulbs can be planted in December:
Begonias, Petunia, Impatiens, Calendula, Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, Echinacea, Verbascum, Verbena, Alyssum, Cosmos, Gaillardia, Arctotis, Marigold, Nemesia, Salvia, Penstemon, Nicotiana, Nigella, Hollyhock, Peruvian lily, Daisy, Delphinium, Dianthus, Fuchsia, Gardenia, Gerbera, Lavender.
Growing flowers in December
- Now is a great time of year to plant up some containers and hanging baskets for a summer full of brilliant colour. You can use summer bedding and patio plants but remember to check that any hanging baskets will hold their own weight once fully watered. Container plants should be watered regularly – on a daily basis during dry spells.
- Spring bulbs that have completely died down may be lifted now. Leave them on the grass to dry off for a day or so before gently brushing off loose soil. Then spread them out in a single layer on a wire or plastic mesh tray and store in a cool, airy and dry place until autumn.
- Buy a couple of pots of brilliant red poinsettias a week or two before Christmas. There’s nothing quite like them to bring a real festive air to your home.
Indoor plants December
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Keep the air around indoor plants humid by regularly misting plants with a water atomiser.
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Wipe leaves occasionally with a damp cloth to keep them clean.
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If you are going away over the festive season, water all your potted plants thoroughly a day or so before leaving then move them all to the coolest part of the house. They will survive quite well for a couple of weeks without further water.
- Feed fortnightly with ready to use Scotts Osmocote® Pour+Feed Indoor Plants Liquid Fertiliser – no mixing required. There are also Pour+Feed products for orchids and cacti.
December lawn care
- Regular mowing will keep existing lawns looking neat. Raise the cutting height to leave the grass longer to protect the crowns and runners of grasses from the sun. This also helps keep the soil and roots cooler.
- If it doesn’t rain, water the lawn deeply at least once a week (if there are no restrictions in place) early in the morning before sunrise.
- Apply a slow release lawn food like Lawn Builder All Lawn Types to keep the lawn growing well. If your soil is hydrophobic (repels moisture), use Lawn Builder + Wetting Agent.
