DECEMBER - EDIBLES - Enjoy the fruits of your labours
This is a great month for enjoying the fruits of your labours – literally, with berryfruits all coming on stream.
TIME TO HARVEST...
as above, strawberries, raspberries, black currants, cherries, the first of the blueberries etc., regular lettuces from regular plantings, courgettes, peas, beans, herbs, including sweet basil. Harvest garlic from now on when the lower leaves turn yellow and dry out: allow to dry in well-ventilated space for 2 weeks before storing.
TIME TO PLANT...
Lettuces ready for entertaining, Christmas etc., beetroot, Brussel sprouts (early planting ensures maximum sprouts on tall stems), more beans, cucumbers, chillies, herbs as needed, Sweet 100 tomatoes, second crop of courgettes to take over from first crop if mildew becomes a problem.
TIME TO SOW...
Leeks to plant out post-Christmas, sweetcorn, carrots, parsnips, radishes, lettuces, one last crop of potatoes.
TIME TO FEED...
Roses if you didn’t feed in November, or if the foliage colour is paling, stone fruit which will be ripening soon (keep up the watering), courgettes & tomatoes which will be growing fast & producing now, perennials & annuals in flower.
TIME TO PROTECT...
Your vegetables (& flowers) from insect pests with cleomes planted nearby – cleomes entice insects away from precious crops etc. Protect lettuces from slugs & snails – they just love ‘em! Protect new lettuce plantings from birds with 1 metre netting cloches.
TIME TO CONTROL...
Lateral branches on tomatoes (laterals come out at 45 degrees from the main stem/horizontal branch joints).
TIME TO PRUNE...
Thin out any excessive growth on feijoas to allow more sun onto the red flowers for ripening, & similarly with stonefruit, avoiding taking off too much fruit.