Garlic
Plant while the ground remains workable and free-draining.
- Best fit
- Sunny beds and deep containers that do not remain wet.
- Watch out
- Do not force cloves into saturated soil; pot them into suitable compost if needed.
December is mostly a holding, harvesting and planning month. A short, honest list is more useful than implying that an unheated garden can produce spring-speed growth in the darkest weeks.
Build my full-year planThe short answer
Keep the list realistic.
Garlic can still be planted in workable, free-draining soil or containers. Protected sowings of suitable leaves are possible but slow. The highest-value work is often inspecting covers, improving drainage, harvesting overwintering crops and turning next year’s intentions into a space-by-space plan.
What can still earn space
Sow or plant selectively
Save only the crop that fits your own space and packet guidance.
Winter lettuce under cover
A small protected sowing is possible with a suitable variety.
- Best fit
- Unheated greenhouse or well-ventilated cloche.
- Watch out
- Low light means slow growth; avoid overwatering and overcrowding.
Pea shoots indoors
Sow small repeat batches for shoots rather than pod production.
- Best fit
- A bright indoor windowsill in a clean container.
- Watch out
- Turn the tray for even light and compost old batches before they become weak.
Jobs worth remembering
Put the useful work on the calendar
Each button saves the job in My plan and downloads a standard calendar file.
December 6
Check fleece, cloches and mesh after wind
Resecure edges, lift wet material from foliage and ventilate enclosed protection during mild spells.
December 14
Inspect stored potatoes, onions and squash
Remove damaged produce before rot spreads and check the storage area remains cool, dry and ventilated.
December 28
Build next year’s growing plan
Assign crops to each pot and bed, then check where harvest dates leave room for a follow-on crop.
Avoid false urgency
Three common mistakes
Starting tender crops too early
Early tomatoes and courgettes can outgrow indoor space long before outdoor conditions are safe.
Treating an unheated greenhouse as frost-free
Temperatures can approach outdoor lows. Choose hardy crops and use extra protection only where it can be managed safely.
Watering by routine
Cold compost dries slowly. Check moisture below the surface before adding water.
Questions for December
Practical answers for small growers
What vegetables can I sow in December in the UK?
The useful list is short: protected winter leaves, indoor pea shoots and certain crops only where their variety guidance supports it. Garlic is usually planted as cloves rather than sown as seed.
Can I plant garlic in December?
Yes, when soil or container compost is workable and free-draining. Avoid forcing cloves into frozen or waterlogged ground.
Should I start tomatoes in December?
Usually not for an ordinary UK home setup. Seedlings need sustained warmth and strong light, then enough indoor space until conditions are safe. A later sowing is normally easier to manage.
Sources and scope
Use the variety and weather as the final check
National month labels are starting points. Packets, local frost, drainage, light and protection decide the useful window.