Kitchen Garden December 2025

Days for dreaming As I write this, the rain is hammering on the windows – those sideways sheets that soak into everything and makes even the hardiest gardener think twice about heading outside. It's the kind of day that reminds me how much of gardening happens away from the soil. With the ground sodden and the days closing in, there's real pleasure in coming indoors, warming up and starting to dream of next year's plot. This month's issue is all about that sense of looking forward while taking stock. You'll find features on caring for perennial veg through winter, keeping greenhouses and tunnels frost-free with off-grid heaters, and plenty of ideas to carry you through the quiet months. There's advice on pruning, planning, and using this pause in the growing…

INSULATE Protect external water pipes with insulation and, if possible, turn off the water supply to them to reduce the risk of burst pipes OPEN UP Open fruit cages to allow birds free access. Their foraging will help reduce pest build-up, benefiting both the fruit bushes and the birds, who will enjoy much-needed protein CUT BACK Trim hedges while they are dormant, cutting back to the desired size and shape for healthy growth in the spring TOP UP WATER Keep putting out water for wildlife. Fresh water is vital for drinking and bathing. Make sure all dishes are clean to reduce the risk of any potental disease transmission December's festive meals showcase frost-hardy vegetables that thrive in the UK, and can be grown right through the winter, including parsnips, Brussels…

Growing onions from seed is cheaper than buying sets, and offers a wider range of varieties to choose from. Champion onion growers traditionally sow theirs on Boxing Day. It's a great reason to get away from the festivities and into the greenhouse for an hour or two, with the added bonus of giving the onions plenty of growing time for large harvests in the summer. Fill module trays with peat-free multipurpose compost and water. Sow five seeds per module, cover with a sprinkle of compost and place under cover. They need a temperature of 10-16°C (50-61°F). Keep the compost moist, but not too damp. In the spring, plant in the garden. Cover with some horticultural fleece for the first few weeks, to help protect the seedlings as they establish. I…

COBRA LAUNCHES POWERFUL NEW ELECTRIC CHIPPER Garden machinery brand Cobra has unveiled the CHIP1500LE, a robust electric wood chipper designed for allotments, orchards and larger gardens. Compact yet strong, it handles branches up to 100mm thick, turning prunings into mulch or compost material in minutes. A 2.8 kW motor gives petrol-like performance without fumes or noise. The wide gravity-feed hopper easily accommodates irregular branches, while a steel cutting drum with twin reversible blades ensures a clean finish. Safety is ensured through an emergency stop, overload protection, and a transparent discharge chute. Mounted on transport wheels with a fold-down handle, it's easy to move and store. Optional extras include a collapsible collection bag and a safety pusher. Ideal for winter pruning and hedge trimmings, it's an efficient way to recycle woody…

CONTACT US: RACHEL GRAHAM kg.ed@kelsey.co.uk A BUMPER CROP OF CUCUMBERS I was given a grafted cucumber plant as a present, so my great-grandsons and I decided to keep count of how many we grew. The final count was 122 cucumbers! The boys are already planning next year's cucumber count. Jenny Stutley, Herts Ed: 122? That's amazing! Do you remember which variety it was? STAR LETTER WINS £25 VOUCHER DID YOU KNOW? – GRAFTED CUCUMBERS A grafted cucumber is really two plants in one: a strong, disease-resistant rootstock joined to a top chosen for flavour and fruit quality. Once the two have fused, the roots do all the heavy lifting, producing a tougher, longer-lived plant with better resistance to problems like fusarium wilt. Most are grown under cover and can crop for…

Get in touch by post, email or via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/kitchengardenmag BARK ON PLUM TREE CRACKING STAR QUESTION WINS £25 VOUCHER Q. Our plum tree has a very damaged trunk with deep vertical cracks, but nothing seems to be weeping from them. The black coating in the picture below is grease applied last autumn. Despite the damage, the tree produced a spectacular crop this year. Could painting the cracks with a protective compound help, or would it seal in a problem? We do get roe deer in the garden and wondered if they might be to blame? Priscilla Roberts, Somerset A. The damage probably began as deer rubbing, which removed patches of bark, and over subsequent winters frost has enlarged the wound into a long vertical split. This combination…