Gardening

What to plant in December

December weather facts :

- Average high temperature: 20°C - Average low temperature: 15°C - Average rainfall days: 4 days

The dry and clear weather continues into the month of December, the harsh mistress puts our effort and love for the garden to the test, intimidating us with bonechilling temperatures. But not even a bit, do I fear. Us Hong Kong gardeners have it relatively well off in comparison to our British counterparts. Lay out a loosely-fitted flannel shirt and high-waisted cotton trousers – remember to add a quilted gilet if it starts to get chilly. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the final chapter of 2020’s gardening epic.

Winter may not seem inviting, but there are a few vegetables that she permits growth. The seeds of the following may be sown: mustard and cress, lettuce, radish, cabbage, celery, turnip, peas and French beans. For French beans, get the best results by sowing in ground that has been manured for a previous crop. The ground should be dug over before sowing the seeds. They should be sown in drills eighteen inches or two feet apart and two inches deep. Care must be taken that they are sown on well-drained land, as they do not like cold, wet soil. Don’t forget about the flowers, although the month of December is a difficult one for them as only the Sunflower can be sown. Narcissus, second batch, may be potted while the cuttings of Verbenas, Violets, Heliotropes and Geraniums may be put in.

My final advice is to have a jolly season – transform your green space with red plants such as Radish, Poinsettia and Holly. Till the time we meet again, I wish you a Merry Christmas, and a year filled with blossoming success.

By William James Tutcher F.L.S. (1867-1920)

Superintendent of Hong Kong Botanical Gardens. Paraphrased from his seminal 1906 work Gardening for Hong Kong.