December marks the beginning of winter and the return of the cold weather. Most of the actions taken in the garden consist of preventing potential frost damage. This does not mean that there will not be other actions to be taken!
Planting, sowing: what to do in December?
In the food garden, December is a rather quiet month. On the planting side, it's time to sow the hardy weights, asparagus and shallots in the ground. Under cover, you can also sow broccoli, carrots, chervil, cabbage, cauliflower, watercress, lettuce, parsley, peas, leeks and radishes.
As for the harvest, we hope you have made a few preserves, otherwise, no more sunny vegetables! Say hello to winter vegetables like winter radishes, curly chicory, escaroles, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, lamb's lettuce, salsify, Jerusalem artichokes, beets, and carrots. 'In December in the southern region, it's the olive harvest,' says Laurent Petraud, network coordinator at Botanic. A small consolation that will make you think of your holidays by the Mediterranean.
'In December, depending on the climate and the region where you are, you can continue to plant all the plants in the ornamental garden, as well as the fruit trees,' adds Laurent Petraud. As for flowers, if you have transplanted pansies, don't forget to mulch them to protect them from the cold. It's also time to bring in your dahlias if you haven't already.
Maintaining your garden in winter: pruning, cuttings, cleaning, treating
Once the leaves have fallen, it's also time to prune your currants, blackcurrants, raspberries, and young apple and pear trees. But also to take cuttings from small fruit shrubs such as vines, blackcurrants and raspberries, protect the rhubarb plants and force the endives (which means placing the roots next to each other, making sure that the buds are at the same height).
'In December, it's time to collect the leaves, they can be used in the compost or directly on the ground to then enrich the vegetable garden or orchard,' explains Laurent Petraud. Prunings can also be shredded and used as compost or mulch.
'Nourish the soil of the vegetable garden with the chimney ashes; they will enrich the soil with potash (potassium editor's note)', Gamm Vert also advises. You can also dig the unfrozen plots and fertilize them with an amendment.
Also remember to treat your trees preventively with Bordeaux mixture. This fungicide will protect your orchard from diseases like downy mildew. Wilted vegetation and rotten vegetables should also be cleaned to prevent the spread of disease.
Finally, take the scions for the spring grafts of your apple, pear, quince, peach, cherry and plum trees.
Protecting your garden from the cold: what equipment?
In December, you'll make your final preparations before winter gets too biting. It is important to have the right equipment to protect your garden and also to keep an alert eye on the weather. In the event of frost, consider installing overwintering sails or tunnels to protect your plantings in the ground such as spinach, lamb's lettuce and other lettuce.
Generally speaking, installing winter protection will punctuate your schedule in the garden. Don't panic, as you have taken the lead, normally all your chilly plants are in greenhouses. It should also be noted that the greenhouse is ideal for those who prefer to sow early, around mid-February, and harvest late, until October.
Protecting from the cold also means using individual cloches to keep salads and herbs warm. Be careful, on mild and sunny days, remember to raise the bells to avoid burning your plants. Also, don't forget to mulch your soil so it doesn't freeze. This will make harvesting much easier!
After a snowfall, shake tree branches so they don't give way under the weight, and cut off dead or diseased branches. Finally, as in October and November, take advantage of December to dig retention basins, install water collectors and stock up on supplies in order to anticipate spring and summer.
And to help garden friends weather the cold of winter, you can, if you haven't already, set up nesting boxes and other small shelters for them to find refuge in. And don't forget to regularly replenish them with seeds and fat balls to help them feed.