Vegetable Seeds to Sow in December: Start Your Winter Garden
December might seem like a quiet time for gardening, but it’s the perfect month to prepare for a bountiful year ahead. While the weather may be cold, you can sow plenty of vegetable seeds to get a head start on your harvest. Growing in winter allows you to make the most of your indoor spaces, greenhouses, or even outdoor areas with some frost protection.
From leafy greens to hardy root vegetables, December sowing provides a variety of crops that thrive in the cooler months. With temperatures often hovering between 0°C and 10°C (32°F to 50°F), certain seeds flourish when sown now, ready to produce as soon as spring arrives. This guide will help you choose the right seeds, prepare soil, and maximise your winter growing season.
Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting, planting in December keeps your green thumb busy and ensures an earlier harvest. Let’s explore the vegetable seeds you can sow this month and enjoy fresh, homegrown produce well into the new year. With the proper techniques, December can become one of the most productive months in your gardening calendar.
Broad Beans
December is an excellent time to sow broad beans, setting the stage for an early harvest in spring. These resilient legumes thrive in the cooler months, making them ideal for winter planting. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot in your garden with well-drained soil. Before sowing, prepare the ground by working in some well-rotted compost or organic matter to enhance fertility. Plant seeds about 5 cm deep and 20 cm apart in double rows for efficient use of space and resources. Regular watering helps the seeds to establish well, but it also avoids waterlogging the soil. Varieties like ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ excel when sown in winter, resisting the cold and growing steadily towards a productive spring. Broad beans offer a delicious and nutritious addition to your table and improve soil health by fixing nitrogen, making them a valuable crop for any gardener.
Strawberry
Planting strawberries in December ensures a head start for fruitful harvests in the warmer months. Select a sunny, well-drained spot in your garden, and enrich the soil with organic materials like compost to provide a nurturing environment. Space plants about 30 cm apart, allowing ample room for foliage spread and air circulation. Mulch around the plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds effectively. Water them sufficiently, especially during dry spells, to help the roots establish deeply. By planting now, strawberries will benefit from early root development, promising a bountiful supply of sweet, juicy berries come summer. Cultivating strawberries rewards you with delicious fruits and adds a touch of green and life to your winter garden, preparing it for vibrant growth as the seasons change.
Check out SowSeeds’ December sowing range here.
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From Darren’s Patch
Sowing in December is one of those quiet pleasures I always look forward to. While everything outside feels still, there’s magic in tucking broad beans into the soil or settling strawberry crowns into place, knowing they’re already hard at work beneath the surface. I always make room for ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ broad beans — they’re adamant and never let me down for an early spring harvest. And strawberries? Getting them in now gives them the perfect head start. I mulch mine with straw to keep the roots snug and weeds at bay — come summer, the payoff is unbeatable. Gardening in winter might not have the instant gratification of warmer months, but it sets the tone for the year ahead. There’s something deeply satisfying about knowing you’ve already got next season quietly growing.
