What to do sow and grow in December

Add scented interest to your garden with Christmas box shrubs

There’s plenty to keep you busy in the garden in December. Make the most of any crisp dry days to nip outside and get a head start on the new year.

Here are our top picks of seasonal flowers, plants, fruit and veg to sow and grow in the garden this month:

Plants and flowers to sow and grow

Sow Snapdragons now for early summer blooms

Here are the plants and flowers to sow and grow this December:

In the greenhouse/indoors

• Sow antirrhinums (Snapdragons) and laurentia in a cool greenhouse now for early flowering in the summer.
• Sow begonia and geranium seeds for a head start to the season.
• Hyacinth prefer cooler temperatures so sow them anytime between now and February for optimum growth.

Plants outdoors

• Plant up winter containers with fritillaria, ivy, skimmia and evergreen grasses such as Carex to add colour to your garden. Position them beside entrances and well used paths for a cheerful winter display.
• Plant bulbs in large pots of compost ready to fill any gaps in spring borders.
• Plant some shrubs for winter interest. Sarcococca confusa adds colour and fragrance to your garden at this time of year.
• If you still haven't planted your tulip bulbs there is still time, provided the ground isn't frozen.
• Plant bare-root native hedges to encourage wildlife and create attractive boundaries around your garden.
• Plant bare-root colourful hedging to add a splash of colour to your boundaries.
• Plant bare-root fast growing hedging, for natural, private boundaries around your garden that establish in virtually no time at all. Or for slower, more manageable hedging that doesn't require much pruning, try out our range of slow growing hedging.
• Take stock of any winter-flowering annuals in your garden, and make note which ones were successes for growing next year.

Herbs and vegetables to sow and grow

Sow herbs on your windowsill for winter use

Here’s what to sow and grow in the vegetable garden this December:

In the greenhouse/indoors

• Herbs such as basil, dill, chives and mint can be sown indoors on your windowsill for winter use.
• Sow winter hardy salad leaves under cover, such as lettuce 'Winter Gem' and 'Arctic King'.
• Sow exhibition onion seeds now to give the bulbs time to grow as big as possible.

Direct sow outdoors

• Sow hardy broad bean 'Aquadulce Claudia' outdoors.

Plant outdoors

• Plant Rhubarb crowns now in well prepared soil. Add plenty of organic matter — they’re hungry feeders!

Fruit to sow and grow

Overwinter blackberry plants now for summertime harvests

Try starting to grow these fruits this month:

• If you'd like to grow your own delicious raspberries next year, plant raspberry canes now while they’re dormant.
• Plant blackberries any time between now and the spring.
• Strawberry plants can be planted now for a crop of sweet berries in the summer.
• Plant blueberries this winter for an attractive addition to the fruit garden. With pretty white flowers, delicious berries and fiery autumn foliage, these acid loving plants provide constant interest.
• Plant gooseberries and currants now.