December is another great month for gardening here in Brevard County!
Vegetable + herb gardening is in full swing, we have a great selection of cool-weather annuals to add color to your garden, and the Gardens will be all aglow for this year’s Light up the Gardens evenings on December 3rd, 10th, and 17th!
Read on to learn what you should be doing this month in your Brevard County garden!
Grow your own food!
Many Floridians are harvesting fresh produce from their gardens right now, but it’s still not too late to start growing your own food if you aren’t already!
It’s too late to start seeds for warm-weather crops, but it is a great time to plant cool-weather crops from seed or transplant, such as root crops and greens.
See our inventory below. If we sell it, it’s time to plant it (in Brevard County).
Add some color to your gardens + raised beds!
Try planting Lavender and Violas. Lavender loves the cooler weather and prefers sandy, acidic, dry soil.
Violas are great to add in December as they love this weather and they are beautiful and edible!
Plant trees and shrubs.
December is a great time to plant trees and shrubs!
Postpone major pruning.
Wait until spring to prune trees and shrubs, especially those that are cold-sensitive. Pruning will encourage new growth, which could be damaged during a cold snap.
Have your cold-protection plan in place.
Watch weather reports. Be ready to cover tender plants with sheets and blankets if a freeze or frost warning is in place.
Watering plants the day before a cold snap is also beneficial. Bring in orchids if temperatures drop below 40°F.
Regularly check for pests.
New plant growth slows down and some pests go dormant in the cooler months, but spider mites and thrips can still be a problem.
Apply horticultural oil or soap sprays as needed.
Spray vegetable plants weekly and citrus trees monthly.
Citrus and vegetable plants love liquid seaweed and bat guano! Follow the package instructions for added nutrients and disease prevention.
Clean birdbaths and prepare your feeders.
Help out our feathered friends during this time when an influx of birds have come for a visit to Florida during their winter migration!
Florida Flowers to plant in December:
- alyssum
- delphinium
- geraniums
- ornamental cabbage and kale
- petunias
- pansies
- snapdragons
- violas
Florida Vegetables + Herbs to plant in December:
- arugula
- beets
- brussels sprouts
- cabbage
- carrots
- cauliflower
- celery
- chives
- cilantro
- dill
- fennel
- lettuce
- mustards
- onions
- oregano
- parsley
- peas
- radishes
- Rosemary
- sage
- spinach
- thyme
- turnips
December Spotlight: Citrus!
Be sure to let your citrus ripen on the tree before picking; unlike some other fruits, citrus does not improve in flavor after being picked. If your citrus was planted less than two years ago, encourage the tree’s growth by removing and discarding most of the fruit as soon as it forms.