Vegetable Gardening in Early Winter What to do in Vegetable
Garden in December If the ground is workable, dig over the
vegetable patch, incorporating plenty of well-rotted garden
compost or manure for crops that need rich soil. Runner beans
are particularly fond of plenty of organic matter, and so are
peas, leeks and marrows. Other crops-carrots and potatoes, for
example-resent rich growing conditions, so it is important to
have a good idea of what is being planted where next spring,
before you begin working. Cauliflower curds will need protecting
from frost by bending over an outside leaf or using
horticultural fleece. If the weather has been stormy, brassicas
may need earthing up or staking against strong winds. Forcing
Rhubarb, Chicory and Seakale Rhubarb crowns that were exposed to
frost last month can be brought into the relative warmth of the
greenhouse now. To get pale, succulent, less acid stalks, pack
the crowns-right-way up close together in large boxes, filling
the boxes with moist soil or peat. Th