Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Gardening with Ben. You'll go to
a podcast for all things green and growing. I'm Ben,
your allotment guide and here to help you cultivate your
garden and your passion for plants. Whether you're a seasoned
gardener or just starting out, this podcast is for you.
Each episode will dig into tips, tricks, and techniques to
make your garden and allotment thrive from planting, sewing, and growing.
Speaker 2: We will share all the tips and add advice.
Speaker 1: We will also have regular episodes talking about what we
have been up to on the allotment. So sit back,
grab a brew and enjoy today's episode. Hey everyone, and
welcome back to Gardening with Ben for another brand new episode.
Yesterday we talked about all the things that you can
plant in your garden and allotment in December, and today
we're going to be talking about all the jobs which
need doing in the garden and the allotment. So if
you're wanting to get a head start of next year,
or whether you wanted to keep on top of jobs,
make sure you're listening to this episode. Make yourself some
notes of jobs which you can do in the garden
and tick them off once you've done them, and then
you can continue doing any of your other jobs which
need doing as well down at the allotment. So let's
see what we need to do down at the allotment
and garden this month. So what jobs need to be
done in the vegetable garden during the month of December.
Now this month, you need to protect your over wintering crops.
If you have winter crops such as brustles, sprouts, kale, leaks,
or cabbages, it's important to protect them from the harsh weather.
Mulch around the base of plants with straw, leaves or
fleas to insulate the roots from frost in regions with
heavy snowfall or extreme cold, with clutches or horts cultural
fees to add extra protection from the elements of the
cold weather. Harvest winter vegetables. December is still a harvested
month for many hardy vegetables. Continue harvesting brussels sprouts, kale
leaked parsnips, and cabbages as they mature. Root vegetables such
as carrots and beets and parsnips may also be ready
and their flavor improves after a light frosting. Make sure
you lift any remaining root crop crops before the ground
freeze as solid much bare vegetable beds. Apply a thick
layer of mulch as compost straw or leaf mold over
any bare root vegetables. Over any bare vegetable beds. This
mulch layer helps protect the soil from erosion, prevents nutrients
from being leached by the winter rains, and suppress any
weed growth. In the spring, the mult will are broken
down and you can mix it into the soil, improving
its fertility and structure. Plan your next year's crops. December
is an ideal time to start planning your crop rotation
and garden layout for the up and coming growing season.
Review the success and challenges from the past year, and
decide what vegetables you want to grow next year. Take
into account crop rotation principles to prevent soil depletion and
reduce the risk of pest and diseases. Start start ordering
those seeds already so that you can get ready to
plant in early springtime. Check any stored vegetables. If you've
stored vegetables like potatoes, onions, carut so squash, inspect them
regularly for signs of raw or decay. Remove any that
are starting to spoil to prevent them from affecting the
rest of your stored crops. Turn your compost pile if
the weather permits give you compost pile a good turn
in December. This era is the compound, helping it to
break down much faster. Make sure to add a mix
of green, nitrogen rich and brown carbon rich materials to
keep the compost balanced. In winter, the composting process may
slow down, but turning the pile helps maintain microbole activity.
So green manure. If you have any empty beds that
haven't been munched, consider sowing a green manure such as
winter rye or field beans. These cover crops will protect
the soil over the winter, improve its structure, and add
valuable nutrients. In the spring, you can dig the green
manure into the soil, enriching it with organic matter. Insulated
cold frames and your greenhouses. Prepare and clean your garden tools.
Take the quiet to them in December to clean and
sharpen and oil your garden tools. Remove any soil or rust,
and oil the metal parts to prevent rusting. This maintenance
will keep your tools in top con condition for the
up and coming growing cason. You can also repair or
replace any damaged tools before the spring arrives. Plant your
garlic if you've not planted it already. If you haven't
planted garlic yet, early December is a good time in
mild climates. Garlic cloths should be planted in well drained
soil about water two inches deep, with the pointed end
facing upwards. December gives its time to establish roots before
the hardest of frosts. Water during dry spells. If December
is particularly dry, which I don't think it is so far,
not after today, remember to water overwintering crops or plants
undercover while they need less water in winter. Prolonged dry
spells can stress plants. Be sure to water when temperatures
or buff freezing, and avoid watering during cold nights to
prevent frost damage. Weed control. Although growth slows in winter,
weeds can still emerge milder climbers. Keep an eye on
your vegetable beds and remove any weeds that appears. This
prevents them from becoming big problem in springtime. We also
compete with overwintering cops for nutrients, so it's best to
deal with them as soon as they appear. Prune your
fruit trees. If you have fruit trees in or near
your vegetable garden, December is a good month to prune dormond, apple,
and pear trees. Remove their diseased or crossing branches to
improve air circulation and shape the trees for better productivity
next year. Avoid prune in stone fruits such as cherries
or plums in winter, as this can increase their risks
of disease. Protect your vegetables For perennial vegetables like rhubarb
and spirogus. Protect the crowns by covering them with a
thick layer of mulch or straw. This will insulate the
plants from freezing temperatures and prevent frost from damer in spring.
You can remove the mulch as the winter warms, allowing
fresh growth to emerge and set up bird feeders. Attracting
birds to your gardens can help with pless control as
they eat over wintering insects and lava. Set up bird
feeders and keep them stopped throughout the winter. Birds can
help keep your garden's pest population in check, and they
will also bring life to the garden. Next up, we're
going to talk about what needs to be done in
the fruit garden at this time of month. What jobs
do we need to get done to keep our fruit
trees and plants alive? So pruning apple and pear trees.
December is an excellent month to prune your apple and
pear trees while they are dormant. Focus on removing any
dead or damaged or diseased wood, as well as branches
that crossover or over crowd the trees. Pruning improves airflow
and light penetration, encouraging healthier growth and better fruit production
next year. If or not to prune fruit trees or plums,
cherries or peaches at this time, as there are more
subsets of built disease when pruned in winter. Mulch around
fruit trees and bushes. Mulching is crucial in December to
protect the roots of fruit trees and bushes from frost.
Apply a thick layer of organic mulch such as well
watered compost, manure or bark, around the base of trees
and bushes like raspberries, blackberries, and currants. This not only
insulates the soil, but also suppresses wheeds and improves soil
structure as it breaks down. Protect soft fruit plants soft
fruit plants like strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries can be vulnerable
to frost damage. Protect them by adding mulch around the
crowns or covering with straw or halts cultural fleece. In
areas prone to heavy frost, a closs or protective fleece
may also be used to shield these from freezing temperatures.
Speaker 2: Check and reapply grease bands. This is one job I
need to do if you haven't done so already, and
shore that the grease bands was clearly fitted around the
trunks of your apple, pear, and plum trees. These sticky
barriers prevent pest like winter moths from climbing up the
trees laying eggs in the bark and check the bands
and reapply if necessary to maintain protection throughout the winter.
Harvest any laid fruit any laated fruit like winter apples
or pears on your trees. December is the last chance
to harvest them. Be sure to pick any remaining fruits
before they are damaged by the frost. Winter apples can
be stored in a cool, dry place such as a
salad or shed, and they will continue to ripen slowly
and can be enjoyed for weeks. Prepare beret fruit trees
for planting. December is an ideal time to plant bare
fruit trees, as the dormant season allows them to establish
their root system before spring growth begins. Prune currant and
gooseberry bushes now. I have pruning my black currants and
goosberry bushes today. If you have any black currant or
gooseberry bushes, December is a good time to prune them.
For black currants, to remove any old stems that I
have stopped producing fruit, and focus on encouraging new shoes.
For goosberries, fin out the center of the bush to
improve air circulation, and remove any crossing or weak branches.
Check stored thruit. If you have apples, pears, or other
fruit trees stored in a cool place, check them regularly
for signs of rott or spoilage. Remove any decaying fruit
immediately to prevent it from affecting the others. Properly stored
fruit can last throughout the winter months, providing steady supply
all the way through winter. Inspect fruit cages and netting.
Check your fruit cages, netting, and supports to shore they
are in good condition. Heavy snorefall and winter storms can
damage netting and supports, so repair overplace any broken parts now.
Keeping your fruit care in good condition and will help
protect your fruit crops from birds and wildlife in the spring.
Protect your grape vines. If you grow grape vines, December
is the time to prune them. Cut back this year's
growth to encourage strong fruit bearing shoots next year. Protect
the base of the plant by adding a layer of
mult or composts to insulate the roots from freezing temperatures.
In colder regions, you can wrap the vines in horticultural
fees to provide extra protection from frost. Protect fig trees.
If you grow in fig trees in the colder climates,
protect these from the winter bike wrapping the tree in
horticultural fleece or straw. You can also mulch around the
base of the tree to protect its roots. If your
fig trees in a pot, considering moving it into a
greenhouse or a sheltered area to avoid frost damage. Water
endurance dry spells. Although fruit trees and bushes need less
water in winter, it's important to ensure they don't dry out,
especially during prolonged dry spells. Water them during the warmer
days when temperatures are buff freezing, but avoid watering in
the evening when the water could freeze around the roots.
Clear any fallen leaves and debris. Clear fallen leaves, tweaks
debris from around the base of fruit trees and bushes
to prevent the spread of disease and to reduce hiding
spots for pests. Fallen leaves can harbor fungal spores and pests,
so it's important to keep the area around your fruit
plants clean. Composts the heavy leaves or use them to
make leaf mold. Right, that's all the jobs which need
doing in the fruit area. Now what needs to be
done in the flower gardens this month? Mulch your flowerbeds.
Apply a thick out of organic multure such as compost,
well wattered manure or leaf mold around your flowerbeds. This
will help protect the fruits or perennials from improve your
soil structure and we change the moisture. Prunium roses, December
is a good time to prune climbing roses and marambling roses.
Prune to remove any dead, diseased or crossing branches and
shorten long shoots to prevent damage from winter. Winds. Other
types of roses, such as hybrid tea or floor bundle,
You may want to wait until late winter for full prune,
but you can give them a light trim to tidy
up the plants. Lift and store any tended bulbs if
you haven't done so already. Lift any tender bulbs like
daily as gladiolized canners to protect them from frost. Gently
dig them up, clean off excess soil, and allow them
to dry out in a frost free place. Store the
bulbs in paper bags or boxes filled with dry and
vermicule or peat in a cool, dry location until spring.
Plant tidy up your perennials. If you haven't cut back
perennials now, it is a good time to any dead
dyeing foliage from plants like hostas, pianies, and daiilies. Cut
back spread stems to ground level to prevent over wintering
pests and diseases. Alternatively, you can leave some seedheads and
stems to provide winter interest and food for wildlife. Plant
you bear root roses and shrubs. December is the perfect
time to plant bear root roses, shrubs, and hedges while
they are dormant. Bear root plants often more affordable and
establish better than container grown plants. Dig a large hole
to accommodate the roots, spread about evenly and back fill
with soil. Water well after planted, and mulch around the
base to insulate the roots. So hardy annuals. If you
have a greenhouse or a golf call frame, December is
a good time to sew hardy annuals like sweet peas, lokspur,
and cornflowers. These seeds establish slowly over winter and bloom
early in spring. Keep the call fame or greenhouse well
ventilated on warmer days to prevent fungal diseases from developing.
Ordering new seeds and plants. December is a great time
to start ordering all your seeds, review the success of
last year's and decide what you want to grow next year.
Leaf seedheads for wildlife. If not cutting back ai your perennials,
consider leaving some seedheads, such as those from sunflowers or
ornamental grasses. They will provide food for birds during the
winter and add texture and interest your garden while little
else is in bloom. So that is all the jobs
which need doing in the vegetable garden, in the fruit garden,
and in the flower garden during the month of December.
Now tomorrow we're going to come back with a new
part what we've not usually done. We're going to talk
about all the jobs which need doing in the greenhouse,
in the shed and in the polytunnel, so make sure
you stay tuned for that episode. I hope you've enjoyed
today's episode and got plenty of notes on what you
need to do in your garden this month. Make sure
you're tuning and I hope that you're enjoying all the
Christmas jokes which we've been posting on our Instagram and Facebook,
YouTube and TikTok and hopefully lots more content to come
and lots more podcasts for you to enjoy. Until next time, everyone,
remember keep smiling, keep shining, and keep gardening with everyone.
Speaker 1: Thank you for joining me on this episode of Gardening
with Ben. I hope you've have found some useful tips
and inspiration for your own gardening and a lot more journey.
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