What Veg Seeds To Sow In December

Although December can be a quiet month in the garden, there are still plenty of plenty of crops you can start sowing indoors to get ahead for Spring. 

Onion Seed

Onion Itaian Flat

Preparation: Choose a sunny spot for planting with free-draining soil.

Sowing: Sow seeds 1-2 cm deep in rows approx 20 cm apart. Thin out the seedlings first to 5 cm apart and later to 10 cm.

Care: Water during prolonged dry spells roughly every two weeks. Stop watering once the bulbs have swollen mid summer.

Harvesting: You can harvest your onions once they have reached a size you like and can be used straight away or dried.

Chillies

Chilli Machu Pichu

Preparation: Chillies need lots of light and heat to to fruit well so to grow over winter you will need grow lights.

Sowing: Chillies need a longer growing season so we recommend sowing your chilli seeds in the winter indoors with heat aids.

Care: The seeds need around 20-25℃ to germinate. Water little and often to keep the soil moist but avoid water logging or drought. You can pinch out the shoot tips when the plant is around 30 cm tall – this should encourage side-shoots that should carry more fruit.

Harvesting: Chillies should be ready for harvesting from around mid summer and into autumn.

Sweet peppers

Sweet Pepper Ingrid

Preparation: Similar to chillies, these plants need lots of warmth so will require grow lights.

Sowing: We recommend sowing two seeds per pot for a better chance at germination. Press your seeds just slightly below the surface of the soil.

Care: Sweet peppers can just about cope with a night temperature of around 12℃ but will do better with anything between 15℃ to 30℃.

Harvesting: Sweet peppers should be ready to start harvesting around mid summer.

Aubergines

Aubergine Melanzana Prosperosa

Preparation: Aubergines are tender plants that require lots of warmth to crop successfully and may need grow lights. They are also quite a slow growing crop so we recommend sowing your seeds in December.

Sowing: Your aubergine seeds will need at least 21℃ to germinate. 

Care: Keep young plants in plenty of light and water regularly.

Harvesting: Aubergines should be ready to start harvesting in mid summer. You can pick individual fruits as soon as they’re full sized.

Micro Greens

Preparation: Micro greens should be started in a small seed tray lined with kitchen roll or felt (this should help to hold the water well).

Sowing: Wet your kitchen roll or felt and sprinkle your seeds on top. Keep your seed tray on a warm windowsill or in  a greenhouse.

Care: Make sure seeds are regularly kept moist by regular watering or misting.

Micro Tomatoes

Preparation: Growing micro tomatoes indoors over the winter will require grow lights.

Sowing: Fill your seed tray with peat-free soil and scatter your seeds just over the soil and cover with a light covering of compost.

Care: Water lightly every few days and check regularly for germination.

Harvesting: 

Edible Houseplants

Edible Tree Pink Banana

Pink Banana, Passion Fruit & Prickly Pear

Preparation: These crops are ideal for growing in a conservatory, greenhouse or poly tunnel.

Sowing: You can start these plants off indoors in containers that are about 30 cm wide. They require warmer conditions no lower than 10-15℃.

Care: Water once a week. You should re-pot every 2-3 years.

Harvesting: 

Edible Trees

Beef and Onion Tree

Preparation: These edible trees will require a warm, sunny spot to grow and well drained alkaline soil.

Sowing: Seeds should be planted in loose soil around 2 cm deep in a container.

Care: They will require at least 10 hours of light a day and lots of warmth so keep them in a nice sunny spot.

Harvesting: 

Cut and Come Again Lettuce

Lettuce Bronze Beauty

Preparation: If you’re sowing your salad leaves in containers, use a peat-free multipurpose compost or garden soil mixed with compost. When sowing in the open round, you can improve soil by digging in compost.

Sowing: You shouldn’t need to sow your seeds too deep (around 1-2 cm) and cover with a thin layer of compost.

Care: Seedlings should be kept weed free and well watered. Water regularly to help the production of new leaves.

Harvesting: Use scissors to cut leaves once they are a good size.

Christmas Tree

Preparation: 

Sowing: 

Care: 

Harvesting: 

Getting a head start on sowing these crops this December should leave you in good stead for Spring with plenty to harvest over the coming months! Happy Growing!