Varieties to grow in December

The ground is often frozen, but the gardening year begins here all the same, indoors and in the planning. If the ground is still open, you can plant late tulips and daffodils, and leftover bulbs do more good in the soil than in a bag. It is also the month for flowers in pots. Amaryllis and hyacinths are forced indoors and flower when it is darkest outside, and many of the bulb collections work as well as a Christmas gift as they do for planting yourself. Ranunculus can start pre-sprouting indoors ahead of planting out in spring. If you want a head start, December is also when the slow seeds begin. Chilli, pepper and leek need many weeks before they are ready to plant out, and sown now under supplementary light they make large, strong plants by summer. Here you will find the bulbs, tubers and seeds suited to growing in December, gathered so you can easily see what can be done this month.