Here are a few
suggestions for December gardening:
There are still
bedding plants available in the garden centers. Look for healthy
specimens in your favorite nursery or garden center and purchase as large
as you can. Plants won't produce much growth until the temperatures rise
when spring weather nears.
You'll still have to water, but
not as often. Container plants still dry out especially on
windy days. Don't water out of habit. Before you reach for the hose or
watering can check the soil's condition for moisture
content.
You can still plant cool season vegetable crops.
Quick growing radishes, green onions from small bulbs, Swiss chard, spinach,
cabbage, cauliflower and a wide assortment of leaf lettuce can still be
planted. Growth will be slow. Protect the plants and seedling from birds,
cabbage loopers,
and light frost by using floating row covers.
Citrus continues to ripen.
Pick only what'll you use.
The fruit will do fine left on the tree unless we have a severe, prolonged freeze. Be ready to cover
the citrus with protective material and add a heat sources whether
Christmas lights or a heat producing light bulb.
Continue to watch the daily weather reports. Killing
frosts can occur at any time in December so you need to plan ahead by watching
local weather broadcasts or checking on the internet. Potted plants can be
moved to warmer locations for protection while other plants may need to be covered with anything
from cardboard to sheets and blankets. Remove the frost protection in the morning to allow the plants
plenty of sunlight.
Continue to nurture the compost
pile by adding fallen leaves, if you have them, and kitchen waste. Add
moisture and turn the
compost regularly. You can never have too much compost.
If you have a
greenhouse make sure your
thermostat and heating system work properly. Shade cloth that
helped protect some plants during the summer might need to be removed to
allow more sunlight. With more plants in the greenhouse and higher
humidity watch for whitefly, mealybug and fungus gnat infestations.
It's not too early to start planning
for next spring's gardening. Seed and garden catalogs make
great winter browsing. Put together that wish list, then think about where
you live and what you can grow using the least amount of water.
Enjoy the holiday season
and get ready to start your gardening again in January. Bare root roses
and fruit trees will hit the nurseries next month. As trees go dormant
with the arrival of winter you'll want consider pruning some of the over grown or damaged trees.
