5 Vegetables To Plant In December

December is a gentle month for gardeners, bringing with it a change of pace and a sense of achievement for all the garden tasks we have completed.

It can be tempting to focus our efforts solely on preparing for the ‘hungry gap’ and preserving the last of our bountiful harvests at this time of year – and whilst this is undeniably important, there are still plenty of vegetables to plant to ensure a productive food crop come spring.

So, what exactly are the best vegetables to plant in December? We round up five of the hardiest, winter-tolerant vegetables to plant now, while there’s still time.

Rhubarb crowns

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December is a good time to plant hardy perennial edibles that behave more like shrubs than annual veg. A reliable option are rhubarb crowns, which, if planted now, will produce an ongoing harvest of vibrant and tangy red stalks just in time for spring.

Expert gardener Mike Carthew tells Country Living: “It is important to prioritise good drainage, as cold combined with waterlogging is what kills plants in winter. Mulch your rhubarb with leaves or compost to insulate roots, as these crops lock into the soil now and will burst into life the moment temperatures rise.”

Fun fact: Botanically, rhubarb is a vegetable but is often put to the same culinary uses as fruits

Blanch, freeze, and store your rhubarb throughout the year if you can’t quite keep up with the plentiful harvests, or use some to make delicious fruit jams, and you’ll thank yourself in the months ahead.

Garlic (if the soil is still workable)

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There is still time to get your garlic in the ground, but you’ll need to ensure that the soil isn’t badly frozen over. Mike says: “Garlic benefits from winter chill to form proper bulbs. If the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged, December is still acceptable.”

Mike suggests choosing hardneck varieties for colder areas and planting 10–15cm apart in well-drained soil. A good tip for successful garlic growing is to avoid planting your bulbs in soggy beds. Raised rows or containers are a better option if needed.

Broad beans

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Mirela B, Senior Garden Designer at House Designer, finds that December is a good time to focus on vegetables that cope naturally with cold conditions.

Mirela explains: “Broad beans are a reliable choice that establish well at this time of year. Good soil preparation makes a big difference, so adding compost helps the ground stay healthy and better able to manage wet weather.”

Planting during short dry spells keeps the soil more workable and allows roots to settle without stress. If a sharp frost is on the way, Mirela suggests using a simple layer of fleece or a cloche to offer protection for young plants.

Winter salads

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Whilst our gardens may be headed towards freezing temperatures, growing under cover offers more options. Angus Mackintosh, director of Designer Garden Rooms, explains: “Sow winter salads such as lamb’s lettuce, winter purslane, rocket, mizuna, and mustards in trays or modules in a cold frame, unheated greenhouse, or polytunnel; they’ll tick along slowly and give you cut‑and‑come‑again leaves.”

Spinach and chard will also establish well in modules now, ready for planting out when the light lifts.

Asian greens and microgreens

If you have a very sunny garden and you can set up cloches, or cover your growing area with plastic or fleece, then you should consider growing a variety of hardy winter vegetables.

Bethany Evans, head of gardens at Mayen Estate, says: “My favourite winter crops are Asian greens, of which many delicious varieties are hardy enough to withstand the British winter.”

Bethany’s advice is to start Asian greens, such as pak choi, off in trays in a greenhouse or sunny windowsill before planting out, to give them the best chance of survival.

If you do have a greenhouse or a sunny windowsill, you can also think about microgreens – those fancy little shoots that you find as garnishes in restaurants can be delicious mixed through a warm winter roast vegetable salad. Consider investing in a grow light to help them through those darkest days, too.

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Becky is a freelance journalist based in Somerset, UK, specialising in all things home, gardens, lifestyle, and entertainment. With a love of classic rom-coms and a penchant for romanticising her own everyday life, she enjoys embracing cosy, slow living with her family and their crazy Welsh collie, Cookie. Becky has been published in publications such as Cosmopolitan, The Independent, The Evening Standard, The Telegraph, Collider, Happiful Magazine, OK! And many more.