Sally Scalera

Brevard County Horticulture Extension Agent
3695 Lake Drive -- Cocoa FL 32926 -- 321-633-1702

December gardening plans

Nov. 24

December can be a busy month due to the holidays, but considering the average day-time temperature should be in the mid 70’s, it is a great time to work outside. If you are looking for an excuse to get outside and enjoy the weather, here are some ideas of things to do around the yard.

  • Bring orchids inside if the temperatures are forecasted to get down to 50 degrees or lower.
  • Since winter is just starting, make your plan now for what plants will need protection if a freeze is forecasted. Figure out what blankets and quilts will be used over which plants!
  • If you have any leaves in your yard, rake them up and put them in your compost pile or use them as mulch for your trees and shrubs.
  • Flowers which can be planted in December include alyssum, calendula, dianthus, pansy, snapdragon, viola, stock, petunia, sweet peas and flowering kale.
  • Some herbs that can be planted are garlic chives, chives, lemon grass (plant this in a large pot), parsley, rosemary, Mexican tarragon, fennel, mint, thyme, lemon balm, Greek oregano, salad burnet, lavenders, chervil and sage.
  • Plant some bulbs like African iris (Morea), amaryllis, anemones, crinum, day lily (Hemerocallis), society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea), spider lilies, rain lilies (Zephyranthes), Agapanthus, Astec lily (Sprekelia), kaffir lily (Clivia), calla (Zantedeschia), hurricane lily (Lycoris), Tritonia, Watsonia, Elephant ears (Alocasia, Colocasia, Xanthosoma) and narcissus.
  • The shorter days and cooler temperatures of December will allow the grass to get by with less water now. One good deep watering a week (3/4 of an inch at one time) is probably all your lawn will need.
  • Now that the grass isn’t growing as fast, you may be able to get by with only mowing every other week.
  • Mow high enough to maintain proper turf height. (3-4 inches for St. Augustine & Bahia and 3/4 - 1 ½ inches for Bermuda.)
  • Plant new fruit trees and shrubs (if you have the room!)
  • Fertilize the vegetable garden every three to four weeks. For vegetables that produce a fruit such as tomatoes, cucumbers, egg plant, etc. use a fertilizer with all three numbers the same, like 10-10-10 or lower Nitrogen, the first of the three numbers on the bag, then Phosphorous, the second number, like 6-8-8.
  • Don’t forget to foliar feed your vegetable plants and citrus trees with a liquid seaweed solution like Maxicrop. Spray the foliage, both sides until it drips, weekly for vegetables plants and at least monthly for citrus trees.
  • Don’t forget to give your citrus trees an inch of water every 7-10 days if we don’t get any rain.
  • Vegetables that can be planted in December include: beets; broccoli; cabbage; carrots; cauliflower; celery; Chinese cabbage; collards; kale; kohlrabi; leek; lettuce; mustard; onions - short-day bulbing varieties, bunching & multipliers; English peas; radishes.
  • Vegetable seeds that can be sown in December for transplanting in January are: beets; broccoli; cabbage; cauliflower; celery; Chinese cabbage; collards eggplant; endive/escarole; kale; kohlrabi; leek; lettuce; mustard; onions - bunching & multipliers; English peas; turnips; peppers - sweet & hot; tomatoes; watermelon.
  • Interested in finding some fresh produce at Farmer’s Markets or produce stands? Here is a list of some of the produce that may be available in December: avocados, broccoli, cabbage, canistel, carambola, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, endive/escarole, grapefruit, honeydew, kumquat, oranges, passion fruit, peppers, pummelo, radishes, squash, strawberries, sweet corn, tangerines & tangelos, tomatoes and watermelon.