What to Plant in December in the UK
December is a quiet month in the UK vegetable garden. Cold weather, short days, and frosty conditions mean most planting stops until early spring.
While there is very little to sow outdoors, December is still a useful time for garden maintenance and planning next year’s crops.
Vegetable gardening naturally slows down during winter.
Vegetables to plant in December
In most parts of the UK, there is very little planting to do in December.
In mild areas, you may still be able to plant:
garlic
overwintering onions
If the soil is frozen or waterlogged, planting should wait until conditions improve.
Growing under protection
Some vegetables can continue growing under protection.
If you have:
a greenhouse
a cold frame
cloches
You may be able to grow:
winter lettuce
spinach
herbs
Growth will be slow due to limited daylight.
Winter garden jobs
December is a good time to focus on simple maintenance tasks.
You can:
check stored vegetables
clean and organise tools
protect containers from frost
add compost to empty beds
review notes from the growing season
These small tasks prepare the garden for spring.
Planning next year’s garden
December is an ideal time to plan the next growing season.
You might:
choose vegetables to grow
plan garden layout
order seeds
review planting calendars
Planning ahead makes spring gardening easier.
A winter pause in the garden
December is a resting period for most vegetable gardens in the UK.
Although planting is limited, preparation and planning help ensure a strong start when the growing season returns.
Gardening becomes active again as winter ends.