What to Plant in Your Houston Garden in December
December is a Dream in the Houston Kitchen Garden
The temperatures are continuing to cool down, humidity is low, and we still have ample amounts of sunlight. There’s no better time to be in the garden than December.
It’s time to fill up our garden beds with lush, vibrant greens - lettuces galore, crisp kale, and swiss chard in every color.
December lands us in the middle of the cool season.
The cool season runs from October-March and is the favorite of the Houston garden seasons due to the variety of vegetable and herb options we can grow in temperatures that aren’t too hot and not too cold.
We also get a natural break from heat-loving pests and diseases in our garden spaces. Cool season, you’re forever our favorite.
We would love to help you get your kitchen garden installed before the holidays. Did you know we’re offering free consultations? Tell us about your garden space HERE, and we’ll see if we can fit you in for a complimentary garden consultation.
You Can Plant Herbs, Vegetables, and Pollinator Plants in Your Houston Garden in December
In our Rooted Garden clients’ gardens, we love to plant a wide variety of herbs, vegetables and pollinator plants. This variety in the Houston garden not only means you’ll have something to harvest daily from the garden in December, but also contributes to a much healthier garden throughout the season.
The herbs we love growing in December in Houston include the woody herbs in the mint family that grow throughout the year. These include rosemary, chives, oregano, sage, marjoram, and thyme. The cooler temperatures bring a few additional herbs in the garden including, parsley, cilantro, fennel, and dill.
The vegetables we plant in December in Houston include kale, mizuna, swiss chard, spinach, broccoli, pease, fava beans, cauliflower, radish, beets, and carrots. In addition, we can grow arugula and loads of salad greens this month. Our favorite varieties are buttercrunch, romaine, and spring mix. Now that the temperatures are cooler they thrive better this month.
You Can Plant Sweet Lettuces in Your Houston Garden in December
Sweet lettuces are a client favorite in the kitchen garden and for good reason.
Imagine growing your own lettuce from October through April and never having to purchase from the grocery store. Having fresh and delicious greens ready at a moments notice for a lunch or dinner salad. This is possible in the Houston cool season garden.
The Rooted Garden team plants lettuce by both starts (small plants) and by seed in December which provides continual harvesting all season long. Growing your own lettuce allows you a wide range of varieties not found on your grocery store shelf. Our grocery store lettuce travels from California and Arizona on lengthy truck rides to Houston. As a result, growers produce those varieties that have a long shelf which compromises the variety consumers have access to in Houston. We love to grow a variety of greens such as Black Seeded Simpson, Lolla Rosa, Butter Crunch and Flashy Butter Gem. Although not technically a sweet lettuce, arugula thrives in November in the Houston garden as well.
Lettuces are what we call a “cut and come again” plant, meaning you can harvest again again from them for a three or so month period. This is why lettuce is ideal for all types of gardens from patio gardens to very large gardens. Plus, lettuce take up very little space and can be planted few inches apart from one another. It allows our clients to maximize their growing space.
Plant Peas on Trellises
Peas are directly planted by seed during the cooler temperatures and are the perfect vegetables to grow vertically. Snow peas and sugar snap peas are two of our favorite varieties to plant in December.
Plant Parsley, Cilantro, and Dill in Your Houston Garden in December
Did you know that several of the cooler temperature herbs including parsley, cilantro and dill are part of the carrot family, Apiaceae? When you understand the plant families it becomes easier to identify similar traits and characteristics including their desire to thrive in cooler temperatures in Houston.
Cilantro can be started by seed but all others should be transplants this month.
Plant Kale and Other Greens in Your Houston Garden in December
Did we mention you can grow greens year round in your Houston garden? It’s true!
Kale and swiss chard need to be transplants, but you can plant lettuce seeds directly into the soil this month. We also like to plant lettuce transplants in addition to seeds to keep the harvest continually coming!
Greens such as kale and chard are so versatile for salads, smoothies, steamed and as garnishes. Plus, if we do receive a rare Houston freeze this actually enhances their favor and makes them slightly sweeter. Remember to harvest often - from the bottom and outside leaves (and never harvest more than 1/3 of your plant at a time).
Plant Root Crops in Your Houston Garden in December
Root crops such as radish, carrots and beets can be planted this month in your kitchen garden.
When planting root crops take some extra time to decide where to plant them. Root crops need approximately 5 hours of a sun a day and between the shorter days and the leafy greens growing in the garden root crops sometimes get shaded out from the sun.
You can expect radishes to take the least amount of time and be ready in as little as 30 days, while carrots and beets taking longer at around 75 days or more.
Plant these crops by direct seed and be sure to space them accordingly for ample growing room. If you are like many of us, it is easier to toss some seeds down then it is to take the time to carefully plan their spacing. If this is more your style you will need to go back when the plants are 1” tall and “thin” them. Thinning is simply removing the smaller seedings to make room for the larger ones to grow. Keep in mind if they are crowded above the soil, they will be crowded below the soil too.
Lastly, be sure your seeds stay watered and do not dry out. Even though the temperatures are cooler, don’t forget about water to ensure the seeds germinate.
Plant Broccoli and Cauliflower in Your Houston Garden in December
Broccoli and Cauliflower can be tricky to grow in Houston for a couple reasons and we suggest these for clients who have 75 or more square feet of garden space,
Both of these plants prefer cooler temperatures which Houston doesn’t always have in the winter, or for an extended period of time at least.
When growing broccoli the plant will produce one larger center head, and depending on the variety, several more smaller side shoots off to the side. Cauliflower will produce one large center head. Both of these can be fun to grow, but the production is much more limited with broccoli and cauliflower than other cool season vegetables.
We suggest both of these for larger gardens where clients don’t have to compromise the abundance of greens, herbs and root vegetables for a single head of broccoli and cauliflower.
Tending the Houston Kitchen Garden in December
In December we want to focus on tending the plants in our gardens.
Continue to prune back outer and older leaves on your plants. In the cool season we do not have to prune as much, since growth slows down a bit. Make sure to never prune more than 1/3 of the plant at a time.
Thin your root crops to ensure that there is enough space for their growth.
Help your peas and beans attach to the trellis for successful vertical growth. Using twine is a great way to do this!
Help strengthen your plants root system and main stem by pushing compost around the base of the plant. This helps the plant to know it is supported in its growth!
Leafy greens like a fertilizer with high nitrogen content! Your root crops will not need to be fertilized.
Keep your plants fed by adding fresh compost into the garden. It is important to add about 2-3” each quarter.
Make sure to check for pests regularly! While the cool season gives us a bit of a break, pests can still harm the plants in your garden. Tule or mesh covers are great for protecting your plants.
Prepare for Frost!
While we do not experience long periods of time with frost here, it is possible that we see freezing temperatures over the next couple months.
Water your garden (and citrus trees) the morning or early afternoon before freezing temps are expected. After you water and the leaves are dry, cover with a blanket or frost cloth. Once temperatures are back above freezing, you can remove the cloth!
Want a Garden of Your Own? You Could Get Started for FREE!
If you live nearby you could receive a complimentary garden consult (a $250 value). A garden consultation includes an on-site visit from one of our garden consultants. We work with you to create a garden design that works for your lifestyle, budget, and compliments the beauty of your home. Get started HERE by telling us a little about your garden project and needs.