What's happening in the early December edible garden

Sunrise in the December edible garden

Sunday, December 3, 2023

Most think that nothing is alive to eat in a mid December garden.  Winter is hard on almost all living green things, but some can out weather even the harshest winter temperatures, especially if given a helping hand.

So, what is still surviving in December in our Zone 6/7 garden?  Perennial herbs and vegetables are still green in the garden along with cole crops.  Oregano, creeping thyme, mint, parsley, carrots, celery, kale, cabbage, sorrel, chives, miner's lettuce, cultivated dandelions, chard, sprouting broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts and onions are all still green without any cover.

The winter edible garden

Extend the season with protection for plants

Using pop-up greenhouses to garden year round

Cold season crops for your edible garden

Want a vegetable and fruit garden that you only have to plant once? Try perennials!

Edible December garden bed

Salad burnet

Oregano

Parsley

Chard

Rosemary

Egyptian walking onions

Kale

Under cover, lettuce, sprouting broccoli, celery, parsley, sorrel, chard, and kale are still green and happy. 

Greens inside portable greenhouse

Portable greenhouse over potted greens

In the walk in, pop up greenhouse, the tropicals are doing great, the petunia is still blooming, the kumquat tree is loaded with fruits that are starting to turn, the potted peppers and eggplant are still flowering and producing.  I have a couple of dwarf tomato plants, Tumbling Tom, on our covered patio that I will move into the greenhouse when it gets too cold for them on the patio.  They are flowering right now.  We should get ripe fruits on them in January.  I'm keeping a couple in the house, too, to see which method works the best for extending the season for the summer lover veggies.

Use the fresh greens in salads and herbs in salads, soups or cooked dishes.  It is cold outside, but the garden keeps giving.