The quietest month in the UK garden — but not a wasted one. Harvest winter crops, grow indoors, plan next year, and prepare your soil for the season ahead.
Plan every month with the UK vegetable planting calendar.
Sowing dates and growing advice verified against RHS guidance by the SoilCommander Growing Team.
What to Grow Indoors in December
- Microgreens — ready in 7–14 days; try peas, sunflower, radish, mustard
- Sprouting seeds — lentils, chickpeas, mung beans; ready in 3–5 days; no soil needed
- Forced chicory — pot up roots in compost, exclude light, harvest chicons in 3–4 weeks
- Herbs on the windowsill — pot up chives, parsley, or mint for fresh winter pickings
What to Plant Outdoors in December
- Garlic — absolute last window; mild southern areas only, early December, ground not frozen
- Broad beans (modules only) — sow in deep modules under cover; transplant in late February or March
In most of the UK, December is for planning and preparation rather than planting.
What to Harvest in December
- Parsnips — peak flavour after multiple frosts; leave in ground and lift as needed
- Brussels sprouts — harvest from the bottom of the stem upwards
- Leeks — maincrop varieties holding well through winter
- Kale — keep picking to encourage fresh growth
- Swede and winter cabbage — excellent in the ground through December
Key December Tasks
- Order seeds for next year — popular varieties sell out in January
- Plan crop rotation — rotate brassicas, roots, legumes, and alliums to new beds
- Dig in compost or manure on empty beds; leave surface rough for frost to break down
- Check stored potatoes, onions, and squash — remove any rotting before they spread
- Protect overwintering crops with fleece during hard frosts below −5°C
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if garlic is planted too late in December?
Cloves get less time in cold soil before spring growth starts, which typically means smaller bulbs at harvest than an October or November planting.
Is it worth sowing any vegetable seeds outdoors in December?
No — UK soil is too cold and days too short for reliable germination. Growing this month should be indoors (microgreens, sprouted seeds, forced chicory) or limited to dormant bare-root planting.
Can rhubarb be planted in December?
Yes — bare-root crowns are planted while fully dormant, any time from November to March, so December planting is still fine.
🌱 Did You Know? After the winter solstice on 21 December, days begin to lengthen again. By late January the increase in light is enough to trigger germination in a heated propagator — the new season is closer than it feels.
Plan Your Whole Year
Month-by-month sowing and planting schedules for every UK crop.
Get the Garden PlannerLast updated 4 July 2026
What To Plant In December UK
In December, UK gardeners can sow very little outdoors — December is mainly for indoor growing and dormant planting rather than sowing. You can start microgreens, sprouting seeds, forced chicory and windowsill herbs under cover, plant out garlic in mild southern areas only, and broad beans in deep modules under cover, and harvest parsnips, Brussels sprouts, leeks, kale, swede and winter cabbage.
| December task | Good UK options | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sow outdoors | Very little outdoors — december is mainly for indoor growing and dormant planting rather than sowing. | Check soil moisture and local frost risk before sowing. |
| Seeds to start indoors or under cover | Microgreens, sprouting seeds, forced chicory and windowsill herbs. | Protected sowings help you control temperature, pests and watering. |
| Vegetables to plant out | Garlic in mild southern areas only, and broad beans in deep modules under cover. | Water transplants well and protect young plants where weather or pests are likely. |
| What to harvest | Parsnips, brussels sprouts, leeks, kale, swede and winter cabbage. | Harvest little and often, then record what clears space for the next crop. |
Vegetables to sow outdoors in December
Sow very little outdoors — December is mainly for indoor growing and dormant planting rather than sowing. Use small repeat sowings where possible so the harvest is easier to manage and gaps do not sit empty.
Seeds to start indoors or under cover
Start microgreens, sprouting seeds, forced chicory and windowsill herbs under cover. This is useful when outdoor conditions are too cold, too dry, too exposed or too pest-prone for reliable germination.
Vegetables to plant out
Plant out garlic in mild southern areas only, and broad beans in deep modules under cover. Match the planting window to your local weather and give new plants enough water while roots establish.
What to harvest in December
Harvest parsnips, Brussels sprouts, leeks, kale, swede and winter cabbage. Keep notes on what performed well so next year's plan is based on your own garden rather than memory.
Jobs for the vegetable garden in December
Order seeds for next year, plan crop rotation, dig in compost or manure on empty beds, check stored potatoes and onions for rot, and protect crops with fleece during hard frosts.
Common mistakes in December
Avoid leaving stored crops unchecked for rot, skipping frost protection during cold snaps, and delaying next year's seed order until popular varieties sell out.
Printable monthly checklist
For December, write down four columns: sow outdoors, start under cover, plant out and harvest. Add one line for weather notes, one for bed space, and one for the next crop so the month turns into a practical plan.
Related UK planting guides
Use the vegetable planting calendar UK, compare what to plant in November UK and what to plant in January UK, then check how to grow garlic UK, winter gardening UK and seed starting tools UK.
FAQ section
What vegetables can I plant in December in the UK?
In December, UK gardeners can sow very little outdoors — December is mainly for indoor growing and dormant planting rather than sowing. You can start microgreens, sprouting seeds, forced chicory and windowsill herbs under cover, plant out garlic in mild southern areas only, and broad beans in deep modules under cover, and harvest parsnips, Brussels sprouts, leeks, kale, swede and winter cabbage.
What seeds can I sow outdoors in December?
In December, outdoor options include very little outdoors — December is mainly for indoor growing and dormant planting rather than sowing. Adjust the list for your local soil, weather, frost risk and available protection.
Is it worth sowing any vegetable seeds outdoors in December?
No — UK soil is too cold and days too short for reliable outdoor germination. Growing this month should be indoors (microgreens, sprouted seeds, forced chicory) or limited to dormant bare-root planting.
Turn This Month's Jobs Into A Plan
Month-by-month advice works best when it becomes a written sowing list, bed plan, and follow-up task list.
Plan the next step
Use the printable UK Vegetable Garden Planner to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts, and weekly garden tasks.