Garden Checklist: 10 Tasks You Need To Do in December
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- Опубликовано: 27 июн 2024
- If you've been following us for a while now, then you will know that each month Ben reliably shares the best of his To Do list with you, so that you never have to wonder again what you could be doing in the garden all year round. Thank you Ben!
In this week's episode Ben demonstrates some nifty tips and tricks to help you get the best from your garden, even in winter! A good excuse to get out in the fresh air at the most magical time of the year.
If you love growing your own food, why not take a look at our online Garden Planner which is available from several major websites and seed suppliers:
www.GrowVeg.com
gardenplanner.almanac.com
gardenplanner.motherearthnews...
and many more...
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A cornucopia of interesting garden tips and unbridled enthusiasm. I LOve this gardening guy!
Cheers so much! :-)
Really do check what seeds you need. I’m always buying packs of seeds several times. I would recommend doing the seed checking and ordering in November. There’s now a lot Black Friday sales for seeds. You can save a lot.
Wise words Jamie!
Thank you Ben 🎉🎉🎉
I like growing my bean sprouts in opaque teapots, which you can fill and empty the water from the spout without exposing them to any lights! Growing only 1 layer of mung beans in the bottom of the container will give straighter bean sprouts!
What a fab idea!
Jerusalem Artichokes: wash, lightly peel, boil until just cooked (still firm), drain water, throw in some butter, crush in fresh garlic, pop lid back on saucepan (for at least 5 minutes or until ready to serve). Delicious, garlicky, buttery and crunchy!
Sounds totally yummy - will definitely try this. :-)
Hello there, I ‘ve been watching your videos periodically, but have noticed that they are getting better every time. I really enjoyed your conversation with a fellow gardener that grows ton of food in pots. Keep up with your hard work in providing valuable content to us gardeners! I am in zone 7a in Virginia, US. Thanks
That's incredibly kind of you to say - thank you so much! I work with a couple of really topnotch videographers too, which is definitely helping with the final video quality.
Well there’s a few more jobs added to my list for next allotment day 💪
I am also in zone 8 in the US, I like that you included feed the birds on the check list. I am a volenteer for native animal rescue and birds are what we get the most of. Birds need are help all over the world, volenteering is very rewarding and many counties have wildlife centers for you to visit or help out.
Such a great thing to volunteer - it is so important and so valuable. Thank you!
I feed mine all year round, foxes too.
I rescued one few years ago and she's still coming over for her food, she brings her partner and babies too.
Always handy to pop into Bens site to pick up the best tips as to what to do in the garden during the winter months .Invaluable information Thanks Ben .
Cheers for watching! :-)
I'm in Canada. This ship sailed loooong ago. It's called end of summer prep. lol
How about a few shows about planting in warmer climates? Southern Arizona USA is too hot during the summer months but winter months we can plant cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots now and potatoes in January. With the help of freeze cloths, peppers and tomatoes can be planted.
Thanks for the suggestion - this is certainly something to consider for a future video.
Aberdeenshire Scotland frozen temperatures - 5 today and will be for a few days ,no gardening ☹️but I’m feeding the birds , enjoyed your video and Thankyou for handy tips ,I will do the grease band
Thanks Elizabeth. Hope things defrost a bit for you soon!
Great winterizing tips Ben. Awesome video mate
Cheers Tony. Hope you're doing well mate. Looking forward to the Christmas break! :-)
So nice to see your not hibernating yet for those of us with cabin fever already. I can only imagine having a mild climate such as yours. We have a bit of snow already. I found a box of seeds I ordered from a sale early in the year-Score! Went through my stockpile to see if I was missing any varieties-Of course I was 🤪 and placed a couple small orders already.
Was thinking of creating a cold frame under a low tunnel and try lettuce as it is fairly mild yet.
Great tips and ideas as always! Thanks!
Great to be placing your seed orders already. It's not long before sowing begins a-pace!
Oh gosh your we wind breaker joke was brilliant lol
Haha - thank you! :-)
Good morning Ben, thank you for the encouragement, good way to feed the birds and yes it is a good feeling to tidy up the garden on a nice day. I believe prevention is better than cure, so fasten up the taller plants and lock down. You sleep better with a clear conscience as well, in other words, you did your duty during the day in the garden. Have a happy snug day. Kind regards.
Wise words. Have a fab day also. :-)
I'm in the opposite hemisphere, would love a video about summer proofing our gardens! ❤😊
that's a great idea indeed! @Ni-dk7ni
Thanks for the suggestion. We will cover these things in our later videos. In the meantime you may find this video helpful: ruclips.net/video/-NHb99h5j-g/видео.htmlsi=g3UV7cxSr8WihSTZ and ruclips.net/video/LYVZbItV9Rs/видео.htmlsi=WRpgtRvkjt0atzHB
I remember a Michael Bentine sketch with his invisible miniature characters (Potty Time?) which demonstrated 'sunshade' plants being cultivated to create sunshade material, the material being processed to make sunshades, and the sunshades then being used to protect the 'sunshade' plants. A circular economy?
I'm sure there are RUclipsrs in your part of the world that already cover the topic.
There an Australian... self sufficient me...? I think. Same kind of videos and good personality as well
So nice for share you garden and the plants so very beautiful nature.thank you for sharing.
You're most welcome - thanks for watching! :-)
Loving the germination test. Thank you & happy year of growing ahead Ben
Thanks so much - and you! :-)
Weather started freezing here Oct. 20th in America where I live zone 7. Vegetables are done. I cut back and stored my cannas. Planted 250 tulips, daffodils,crocus,grape hyacinths,and allium in pots and ground. Added a layer of compost on my flower beds,rose bushes, and Hardy hibiscus. I’ve raked and shredded all my leaves and added them to my compost. We make sure the birds have food and fresh water. It’s all done.
Great job, well done! Here in the middle of England, it’s started snowing & the ground is rock hard but this’ll give me time to sort out so many other things, especially for the birds. Many other great suggestions from Ben which I’ll also do.
Good luck with the weather over there.
@@randompersonontheinternet8790 Olives? Pomegranates? Citrus?!! 🤩 Well, that’d be my reason to prefer your climate in Texas.
I used to live in Spain, near Alicante & the weather there sounds similar to yours. Until I learned everything I now know about growing anything edible from the fabulous Ben, apart from the citrus & olive trees, everything used to shrivel up & die 😲
As I look out onto my land, which is currently a foot deep in snow, I’d love to be where you are but maybe I’d be working out how to invent an ‘ice-thrower’ (like a flame-thrower but in reverse) to kill off any bugs 😂
Right, I’d best get out there & sort some fresh food & water for the wildlife before they turn into ice-pops! Good luck over there 🤗
Very good tip for the birds!
Thanks for keeping us inspired as always
Hi, Ben! I normally sprout mung beans and lentils, but would like to sprout others if it is easy to come by them. I also sprout garbanzo beans, but only until they begin to show sprouts, about 2 or 3 days, otherwise, they get mushy. I then pop them into a jar of leftover pickle juice to preserve/flavor them. We plunk them into our salads after a day or two in the juice. They'll keep for a week or so. After that, the juice gets pretty murky.
Sprouting really is so accessible and very satisfying. I should try sprouting garbanzo beans also - better for you this way.
7:50 the mushrooms are doing well Ben!
They're not doing too badly. Cropping well now. Watch out for the video on them on 16th December! :-)
Love your ideas.
VERY HELPFUL, THANK YOU!
Lovely tips!
Love your videos
I love the variety of things in your video's.
Thanks so much. :-)
good tips
Now I just need some energy to do all these tasks hahaha.
Thank you Ben for this information we need it I’m in zone 9 and it’s already in the 30’s-40’s here in morning but at middle of the day it’s in the 70’s love to plant my honey butternut squash and hopefully I can get it out in the garden but who knows, I keep them in small pots on my flower bed cuz my raised bed is already full 🤦🏻♀️😁👩🌾 thanks again and take care 👍🙏🏻👩🌾♥️
Wow - that's still very warm for the day!
In 9b Sacramento, Ca here. I am currently using this cool winter season to rejuvenate my planters and add new mulch and let most of them sit until spring. Thanks Ben. I am growing spinach and all my herbs, including a fig plant that popped up in the summer from a "volunteer" seed, I suppose.
Oh yeah, well I'm frozen in place until mid-may here in Ohio..... 😂😂😂
Check my existing inventory of seeds before I order more today?! Oh that's not necessary! 🤣 Thanks for winter tips (I need to add more mulch) but will have to wait until the 6" of snow in Denver melts away!
Cheers for watching! Not long till spring (ish!). :-)
Good video, we are subscribed 😊 Thanks for what you do.
Thanks so much for subscribing - a very warm welcome to the channel! :-)
Good time drawing
Ben, if your garden ever fails, you’re guaranteed a career as a comedian!
Haha - thanks so much! :-)
We've been having freezes and working. So I've not really done a trying in cleaning up. I do have some beautiful kale and my garlic looks great.
My fruit trees and blackberry canes have not even died enough to trim yet ! Crazy weather this year. But....I'm ready to start my tomatoes seeds for indoor grow lights now.
Merry and Blessed Christmas to you and yours !!
Great to be starting off your tomatoes already - you'll get a nice and early crop. :-)
Moths are damaging, yes. But, they are greater pollinators than butterflies.
Yes, I would only use the sticky bands in the aftermath of severe infestations, otherwise best left off.
I love your blue mist bottle. Where did you get it?
From my local garden centre. But what you're looking for is a pump-action spray bottle. E.g. www.amazon.co.uk/Defenders-Pressure-Pump-Action-Adjustable-Products/dp/B077GFHSRH/ref=sr_1_9?crid=10Y89MLEI5GV9&keywords=pump+action+spray+bottle&qid=1701779619&sprefix=pump+action+spray+bottle%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-9
Love the video. However, it's important to mention that if you feed birds in your garden, the feeders should be cleaned weekly to prevent infections such as trichomonosis being passed from bird to bird.
Yes, very good point - thank you.
❤
I keep on telling myself to get some sunchokes in the ground. Maybe this upcoming year
(They're native here, which is one of the reasons I like the idea of them)
Definitely do it!
I planted jerusalem artichokes 10 years ago and will have them forever. Be warned, you only ever need to buy once
I wouldn't even consider planting them in the garden here (zone 5 US.) Mine managed to escape a raised bed built just for them on the other side of the yard. All it takes is one pea-sized rootling and....they're baaack...LOL!
You'll never starve either! 🤭
@@RealBradMiller I really can't eat them, I feed them to my house cow
I don’t apply grease bands because they also trap and kill beneficial insects. Instead I put a pot full of straw upside down in the tree for the beneficial insects. They will est the pests and I‘ve never had an issue with coddling moths since.
That's a really great suggestion, thank you.
Thanks Ben for the awesome video! 🤗 The mushroom video you were talking about last week coming out soon? 🍄🍄🍄
It's coming out on Saturday 16th December!
@@GrowVeg thanks Ben! Can't wait!!!
I have always been taught to use chlorine/bleach in the cleaning water, letting the pots soak for a minimum of 10 minutes. The ratio I used is 1 part bleach to 9 parts water to disinfect. What is your opinion on this practice for cleaning?
Love all your videos, thanks very much.
I think a little bleach/disinfectant is fine and probably gives a more thorough clean, but some people don't like the idea of using these in the garden, which is why I omitted mention of it.
We've just had 3-4 continuous days HARD frost.
:¬(
Hmm. Minus 5 last night. I think I’ve left it a bit late
Me too.... my water barrels are frozen solid.
Bubble wrap the taps, and pipes, if the water butts are not full, put some empty plastic bottles in there with the lids screwed tight. These act as a squash zone, in case we get a thaw, rain and then another dip in temps. It should stop your water butts becoming full to the brim, and splitting due to ice expansion. You can always half fill your watering cans to give a bit of air space in the water barrels.
I'm behind in getting the garden winter-proofed. You can only do what you can, with the hours you have available & the stuff you have to hand / can get hold of / used last year.
Although being an annual thing, I was hoping to be getting better organised.
@@carolineowen7846 So that’s why my butt splits in winter
Sadly I have learnt the hard way :(
Great advice Caroline. :-)
belts and braces = belt and suspenders (in American English)
cockles of the heart: used in connection with to rejoice, delight, etc.; also (in modern use) to warm the cockles of one’s heart.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.
Suspenders = Ooo err missus in British English.
Great translations - thank you!
I can’t plant any bulbs… the squirrel eats them all. Dorset UK
You could try planting them under a mesh of wire or similar to stop them digging down to reach the bulbs.
Its technically the beginning of summer but an unforecast hailstorm yesterday left holes in the eggplant seedlings although i managed to throw a light cover over the tomatoes 😡
How annoying - I hope they recover.
Thank you! Winterizing question: Ohio 5b/6a - about three weeks ago I raked up some of my neighbor’s leaves and put them into my raised beds. They were barely chopped. Now, the soil in my raised beds only fills them half way. So, my idea was to plop several inches of leaves in each and then go to the store and get some compost to sprinkle on them. Then, I’d cover all of that with a lot more dirt and then that with a couple of inches of straw. The problem is we don’t want to spend more money on the garden right now. Will there be enough time for the leaves to break down if I wait until a somewhat warmer (less cold) day in late February for those leaves to still break down? Or, should I pull them back out of my raised beds? I’d need about $400 to finish the job and right before Christmas is just too much.
Secondly, have you found a particular soap that’s better at getting all the dirt off your fingers and nail beds? (Probably just patience. 😂)
I would just leave them where they are if you can - perhaps weighing the leaves down a bit so they don't blow away. Just to give them more time to decompose down in the beds/native soil.
As far as cleaning my nails - I just use one of those nail brushes and scrub a lot. And a touch of soap - no particular one though!
@@GrowVeg Thank you. My beds are surrounded with chicken wire which hold them there but I’ll be sure to spread them out again when they get blown into a corner.
Re artichokes, TMI😂
:-)
Hi Ben,would you buy seeds from a DIY store,
That should be okay, yes. Seed companies have to ensure an acceptable level of germination, so it shouldn't matter too much where you buy them from. But you might want to check the packing and sow by dates to ensure there's plenty of time left to sow them.
Just discovered your channel after recently acquiring a Japanese knot weed infestated small patch. Any advice?
Japanese knotweed is notoriously difficult to get rid of, but it can be done! www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/solve-problems/japanese-knotweed-removal/
@@GrowVeg thanks.
Hello Ben, I need help with my raised beds . I seeded them and then all the beds are invaded by clover. I mean all the garden but the raised beds with the seeds are bothering me of course. What will I do? I need some advise😊
I would look to kill off the clover first, by covering the ground over so it is in the dark and the seedlings eventually dies off. Only then can sowing begin, so the seedlings aren't competing.
Do I need to cover my raspberry bushes with plastic to protect them from the snow?
No, they are very hardy and don't need to be covered therefore.
Do these tips apply for a 6b zone climate? it is colder than 50F most nights here until late march-ish
Yes indeed, the vast majority of these tips would still apply to your zone.
Thank you! You inspire me to get into the garden right away. Your channel is amazing.@@GrowVeg
lets do a seed exchange!
Smart move! :-)
I decided not to use those tapes since the birds get stuck to them as well. Last year I had a woodpecker stuck on one, the poor bird lost lots of feathers, I thought he won’t survive, but luckily he did. So, I don’t recommend these tapes.
That's a really important precautionary note, thank you. I would only use them if a tree had been infected the year before, but this would make me think twice.
You're 2 days too late.... everything is frozen.
lol same here
You may have missed the frost but don't worry, now's the perfect time to prune the children and mulch the carpets, ready for the Christmas period
Dunno, it's 38°c here, (south Australia) my summer veg is even struggling lol 😎🌞🏝️
Despite the frosts, many of the things mentioned in the video are still good to go! :-)
No, YOU'RE two days too late.
I like your videos, but I ain’t spending mi life washing plastic plant pots and wiping down bamboo canes. 😜😜🤣🤣🤣
Probably better things to do - I appreciate that! ;-)
The way you speak of winter, you must be in a climate where winter is more like late summer/fall.
There's no growing ANYTHING where I live in winter. Not outdoors anyway. We have actual WINTER here, not an "off-growing season."
Yes, our winters are relatively mild, though we still get frosts, snow and maybe a week a year of completely frozen-solid weather.