It’s nearly Christmas and time to dig up the parsnips for Christmas Dinner!

I hope you have some homegrown vegetables for your dinner as well, if not, there’s always next year!

Today is the day after the Winter Solstice. It is a typical winters day, wintery bitter cold from the wind but the sunshine is still pushing through the clouds to remind us it won’t be long until Spring.

What Vegetables do I have Growing in December?

• Brassicas – Cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, Spring Cabbage, Kale.
• Bulbs – Garlic & Elephant Garlic (outdoors) and Shallots in a cell tray (in greenhouse).
• Other – Leeks and Parsnips ready for harvest. Speedy Leaves ready for harvest.

Why do I Grow Winter Vegetables?

I have been growing Winter Vegetables for a few years and to grow them, it’s all about the timing.

Most winter vegetables need to be sown in July and August.

These months are the height of our UK summer so most people will be enjoying the summer sunshine, with Winter not even being in most people’s minds yet.

If you can get the timing right and Sow Seeds in late Summer, there are a few rewards:

• Little to No Pests – example Brussels Sprouts – plenty of hassle in the summer with the butterflies, growing in the winter = no hassle.
• No waste of soil or space – I don’t like to have an empty raised bed. This year, I’ve finally managed to fill up 3 beds. 1 will be empty ready for Spring sowings.
• Low Maintenance – the rain waters the plants, the growing doesn’t require any intervention from me except the removal of a few yellow dying leaves which today took me a few minutes.
• Harvest vegetables for Christmas Dinner – Another achievement this year – Parsnips! We will also have Kale.

Winter Vegetable Garden Walkthrough Video

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Here is my last walkthrough video in Autumn, so you can see the changes in Winter – Autumn Video Walkthrough Video.

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Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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The Winter Veg Series

Start Here

Vegetables to Sow & Plant for Autumn & Winter

Seeds to Sow in July and August for a Autumn and Winter Harvest

Growing Vegetables from Plants after the Summer season for a Winter Harvest

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Sow & Plant in July to December

Vegetable Seeds to Sow in July

Vegetables to Sow in August & Reminder to Pre-Order Your Onions & Garlic

Vegetables to Sow & Plant in September

Vegetables to Sow & Plant in October

November – Planting Vegetables & Fruit Trees

Plant Shallots with me in November

Growing Garlic with Onions & Leeks

Planting Elephant Garlic, have you tried it? (Plant Nov to Dec)

My Essential Guide to Growing Autumn & Spring – Onions from Sets – My Free Ebook

Things to Grow in December

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All About Frost

Winter is Coming! All About Frost and Growing Vegetables in the Autumn/Winter.

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Winter Veg Updates

Late Summer – August sowings Update for Autumn & Winter vegetables – planting out in raised beds.

We have Autumn Cauliflowers! in January 

Musselburgh Leek Harvest in February

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Challenge Brassica

A project to grow Brassicas (cabbage, cauliflower, kale and Brussels sprouts) throughout the autumn and winter.

📕 Part 1 – The Brassica Challenge

📗 Part 2 – Soil Replenishment & The No Dig Method

📘 Part 3 – Planting & Spacings for Kale, Brussels Sprouts & Cauliflower

📙 Part 4 – Exploring Netting, Hoops, Cages for all Budgets to Cover Brassica Plants

Part 5 – Challenge Brassica – One Month Plantings Update

Part 6 – Kale Harvests and Cauliflower – 2.5 Months Update