This image is a warm, inviting scene viewed through the open doors of a wooden-framed greenhouse during a snowy evening. The Interior: A woman is the central focus, standing behind a rustic wooden potting bench. She is smiling and appears engaged in gardening, carefully planting a small green seedling into a terracotta pot with her gloved hands. She is dressed warmly in a cream-colored knitted sweater, a dark green apron, and a plaid scarf. The potting bench is decorated for the season: A steaming mug sits next to a small chalkboard sign that reads, "DECEMBER GREENHOUSE: SOW & GROW!" Several terracotta pots are on the bench, including some with flowering purple hyacinths (bulbs visible) and a cluster of lit pillar candles, adding a cozy glow. To the left, multi-tiered wooden shelves are filled with rows of terracotta pots containing various healthy winter crops and herbs, such as leafy greens. The Exterior: The view through the greenhouse panels shows heavy snow falling outside, creating a soft, misty background. Adding to the festive atmosphere, a tall, blurred Christmas tree adorned with colourful lights is visible just beyond the glass. The greenhouse rafters are strung with warm, exposed bulb lights, which reflect softly off the windows and enhance the scene's cozy ambiance. The overall feeling is one of peace, domesticity, and purposeful gardening activity contrasting with the cold, festive winter night.

Your Yardistry Greenhouse in December: Winter’s Warm Embrace

ByLeanne Livall

December brings short days, long nights, and often, biting cold temperatures with the threat of snow. While the garden outside might be dormant under a blanket of frost, your greenhouse can remain a vibrant hub of activity inside! Far from being a mere storage shed, which we are all guilty of(!), a well-managed greenhouse in December offers a sanctuary for tender plants and a head start for next year’s bounty.

The December Greenhouse: More Than Just Shelter

Think of your greenhouse as a little microclimate, allowing you to extend growing seasons and protect vulnerable plants from the harshest winter conditions. Even an unheated greenhouse provides several degrees of frost protection, which can make all the difference for many young plants.

What to focus on in December:

  • Protection: Your primary goal is to safeguard your existing plants from the cold, damp, and potential winter storms with temperature drops.
  • Preparation: Use this time to get a jump on spring by sowing hardy seeds and tending to overwintering plants.
  • Maintenance: Ensure your greenhouse itself is in top condition to face the coming months.
This clear photo based image offers an interior view of a well-utilised Yardistry Meridian wooden greenhouse during cold winter weather. The structure is framed with light-coloured premium cedar wood that has been pre stained in a natural colour stain, and the roof and side panels are made of clear, translucent polycarbonate material, allowing natural light to enter. Looking out towards the back, a snowy, misty, and barren winter landscape is visible, with snow-trimmed twigs and bare branches on the trees, suggesting low temperatures and short winter days outside. String lights are hung along the rafters, providing a cosy and welcoming atmosphere. The interior is actively set up for winter gardening, focusing on caring for and nurturing plants inside where the conditions are clearly more favourable than outside. Right Side: A wooden shelf holds numerous black plastic seed trays and modules filled with thriving seedlings and leafy green plants, suggesting early propagation or the growing of hardy winter crops. Left Side & Floor: The earthen floor area is lined with various terracotta and plastic pots in differing colours. These pots contain established plants, including kale with large leaves, chives, and what appear to be bulbs just beginning to sprout. Centre: Near a small wooden vent at the back, a miniature chalkboard sign stands on the ground, reading: "December Greenhouse: Sow & Grow!". A timely reminder of the garden jobs that need to be undertaken during the winter months. The overall scene conveys a feeling of warmth and active cultivation contrasting sharply with the cold environment outside.

Plants to Prepare and Nurture in Your December Greenhouse

  1. Overwintering Tender Perennials: Many beloved plants like fuchsias, geraniums (pelargoniums), and cannas aren’t frost-hardy but can be successfully overwintered in a greenhouse.
    • Action: Ensure they are relatively dry to prevent rot, prune back excess growth, and check for pests. Move them into the warmest, most protected part of your greenhouse.
    • Tip: If you have a heated section, even better! Otherwise, consider wrapping pots in bubble wrap for extra insulation.
  2. Hardy Winter Salads: Don’t let the cold stop you from enjoying fresh greens! Many salad varieties thrive in the cooler temperatures of a December greenhouse.
    • Action: Sow seeds of lamb’s lettuce (mâche), winter lettuce varieties, spinach, and greens like mizuna and pak choi. They’ll grow slowly but steadily, providing fresh leaves for your winter meals.
    • Tip: Use cold frames or cloches inside the greenhouse for an extra layer of protection on very frosty nights.
  3. Broad Beans and Peas: For an early spring harvest, December is a fantastic time to sow broad beans and hardy pea varieties in pots or modules.
    • Action: Sow seeds now and let them establish good root systems in the greenhouse. Once spring arrives and the soil outside warms up, you can transplant them directly into your garden.
    • Benefit: This method gives you a significant head start over spring-sown crops and often results in earlier, more robust plants.
  4. Spring Bulbs for Forcing: Want to bring some early colour and fragrance indoors? Your greenhouse is the perfect place to “force” spring bulbs like hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips.
    • Action: Plant prepared bulbs in pots and keep them in a cool, dark place (like under your greenhouse staging) for several weeks to simulate winter. Once they’ve rooted well and developed shoots, bring them into brighter, slightly warmer conditions in the greenhouse to encourage flowering.
    • Reward: Beautiful indoor blooms in late winter or early spring!
  5. Herbs: While many herbs go dormant, some can still provide fresh pickings in a greenhouse.
    • Action: Pot up parsley, mint, and chives to bring into the greenhouse. Rosemary and thyme can also tolerate cooler conditions and appreciate the shelter.
    • Enjoy: Fresh herbs for your winter cooking!
  6. Garlic and Onions (Sets): For an earlier harvest next year, consider planting garlic cloves and onion sets in trays or pots within your greenhouse.
    • Action: They will establish roots and begin to sprout, ready to be planted out in the garden when the weather permits in late winter or early spring.

Greenhouse Winter Maintenance Checklist

  • Insulation: Consider lining your greenhouse with bubble wrap for extra insulation, especially if unheated.
  • Heating (if applicable): Check heaters are working correctly and safely.
  • Ventilation: Even in winter, good airflow is crucial on milder days to prevent fungal diseases. Open vents briefly when conditions allow.
  • Watering: Reduce watering significantly. Plants need much less moisture in winter, and overwatering can lead to rot. Water only when the soil feels dry.
  • Pest Checks: Regularly inspect plants for pests, as warm, sheltered conditions can sometimes encourage them.
  • Cleaning: Give the glass a good clean to maximize precious winter light.

Your Yardistry greenhouse in December is a place of promise and potential. By offering protection and a nurturing environment, you’re not just getting through winter; you’re actively preparing for a spectacular spring and summer!

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