What to Sow and Grow in December
As December deepens, the garden slips into its quieter winter rhythm. Most plants are resting, the days are short, and growth slows right down - but there is still work to be done. This is the month of planning, tidying, preparing, and quietly setting the stage for the year ahead. Whether you’re tending to crops in your polytunnel or glasshouse, or simply organising for early spring sowings, December is a bridge between seasons.
Now is also the perfect time to plan your spring and summer planting, if you haven’t already. Garlic and onions should be planted before the shortest day, though we’ve often tucked ours in over Christmas too - it all depends on the weather. Each year, we replant the very best of our own garlic, and we sow onion seeds in August for overwintering. We also top up with a few organic onion sets from Fruit Hill Farm. If you’re buying bulbs locally, stay alert for any pests or diseases that might be hitching a ride into your garden.
The garden is absolutely soaking at the moment with all the rain. Because our patch clings to the side of a hill, a few springs have opened up - and one of our back walls even collapsed with all the water running down. December for us is about clearing leaves, turning compost, and preparing beds for winter, even when everything feels a bit soggy and chaotic. Every wheelbarrow and rake now saves time and effort next spring (or so we tell ourselves as we work away in the cold!).
It’s also a reflective month: what grew brilliantly, what flopped, which varieties we’d grow again, and what new ideas we want to try next season. Those little notes made now always pay off later.
Here’s our list for December:
Mulch garden beds with a thick layer of compost or mulch to protect the soil and add organic matter for next season.
Finish planting garlic and onions. Aim for before the shortest day, but planting over Christmas is fine if the weather is mild and the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged.
Sow early spring crops indoors, such as peas, broad beans, and sweet peas, to get a head start for planting out in early spring.
Plant any remaining spring bulbs. Time is disappearing fast for daffodils, crocuses, alliums, and tulips, but they are still worth getting into the ground.
Check, clean, and sharpen gardening tools so they’re ready for the growing season.
Clean pots gradually so it doesn’t become a large job in the new year. Clean pots help prevent diseases like damping off.
Gather fallen leaves and twigs for composting or mulching. Avoid leaving heavy piles on garden beds, as they can harbour pests.
Reflect on the past year. Note what grew well, what didn’t, and which varieties had the best flavour. Small reflections now help guide decisions in spring.
Plan your 2026 garden, reviewing crop rotation, bed layouts, and any changes you’d like to make. Think about new crops or varieties to try.
Check your seed supplies and make a list of what you need to order. December is when the Irish Seed Savers and Brown Envelope Seeds catalogues start arriving - always a highlight.
And don't forget, you can buy open-pollinated, Irish-saved seeds from our online store or at the Honesty Farm Shop. We’ll be adding new varieties very soon, once we find the chance to finish germination testing, packing, and labelling.
Let us know what’s still growing in your patch - tag us on Instagram or drop us a line.