December in the Mediterranean Garden: Winter Planting & Planning Guide

December looks quiet at first glance. Frost settles on the beds, growth slows, and the garden seems to pause. But in Mediterranean Zones 8–11, this is not downtime. It’s the month where cold-season resilience meets long-term planning.

Morning frost catching the first winter sun. In Mediterranean gardens, December frost is often brief and shallow, more pause than problem.

Here on our land in Central Portugal, December is less about harvests and more about preparing for the seasons ahead. Short days and cool soil slow everything down, yet the opportunities are real: final garlic plantings, early broad beans, winter lettuces, slow-sown carrots, and the best window of the year for bare-root trees.

Winter is not the enemy. It’s the reset button.

If you’ve ever wondered what actually works in a Mediterranean winter — and how to avoid the common mistakes that cost time and harvests — don’t miss Herman’s Tough Kraut Fixes below. It’s packed with practical troubleshooting and lessons learned the hard way. And if you’re curious about the tools, books, and winter gear we rely on, scroll further to the Recommended Books & Resources section.

Why December Matters in the Mediterranean Garden

Mediterranean winters are mild compared to Northern Europe, but December still reshapes the garden in clear ways:

• Growth slows due to low light and cool soil.

• Frost appears, especially in low points or near running water.

• Rain returns, transforming dry beds into workable soil.

• Protection becomes simple insurance, helping young crops gain momentum.

And this is key: frost in our region is shallow and brief. On our food forest terrace — the lowest, coldest part of our land — morning frost vanishes within an hour of sunrise. The soil never freezes deeply, which allows winter sowing and root development to continue.

Frost on the upper land disappears quickly once the sun rises. In Mediterranean climates, soil temperatures matter more than brief morning freezes.

Understanding your microclimates is your biggest December advantage. Cold air behaves like water. It settles in hollows, flows downhill, and pools in the lowest points. That’s why the food forest area gets frost while the terraces above stay clear. Once you see this pattern, your winter planting and protection choices become obvious.

What to Plant in December (Zones 8–11, Mediterranean Focus)

Below is your real-world list — not just what survives, but what succeeds in a Mediterranean winter.

Broad Beans: Frost-Proof Workhorses

December is the ideal time to sow broad beans. They shrug off frost, anchor nitrogen into the soil, and establish quietly all winter long.

• No protection required — even in frost pockets.

• Early December sowings give you the strongest spring plants.

• Sow directly into improved soil (a little compost mixed in goes a long way).

Tough Tip: Plant in double rows. The plants support each other in winter winds.

A winter legume mix of broad beans, peas, and lupines ready for December sowing. Cold-tolerant legumes establish roots now and fuel spring growth.

Onions: The Slow Giants of Winter

Winter onions need cold to focus on root-building before the long days of spring kick them into bulbing mode.

• Sets or seedlings both work.

• No protection needed unless freshly transplanted during an unexpected cold snap.

• Keep weeds down — onions hate competition.

Tough Tip: Plant shallow. If the bulbs sit too deep, they take longer to size up.

Garlic: The December Classic

This is your last reliable month to get garlic in.

• No fleece needed.

• Garlic loves the cold.

• Plant cloves 10–15 cm apart, tip up.

Tough Tip: Mulch lightly with straw to keep soil life active and prevent weeds. Garlic doesn’t like heavy mulching.

Carrots: Sweetened by the Cold

December carrots rely on soil temperature, not air temperature.

• Sow into a bed with at least 30 cm (12 inches) of loose soil.

• Germination is slow in December — patience is the strategy.

• Protection is optional.

  • In a frost sink (like your food forest), a thin fleece layer boosts germination.

  • On higher terraces, no cover is needed.

Tough Tip: Cold turns carrot starches into sugars. The sweetest harvests of the year happen in winter.

Winter Lettuce: Small Protections, Big Rewards

Lettuce can survive frost, but young leaves burn easily.

Best varieties by climate band:

• Arctic King → Zones 7–9

• Buttercrunch, Jericho → Zones 10–11 (heat-tolerant and slower to bolt in winter sun)

Protection rules:

• Cover during the seedling stage in frost pockets.

• Remove fleece once mature.

• A small tunnel dramatically improves size & speed.

Tough Tip: Lettuce under a simple fleece tunnel grows twice as fast in December. Growth insurance.

Spinach, Chard & Radish: Great for Polytunnels and Cold Frames

These crops will survive outdoors but thrive with some protection in December.

Spinach

• Extremely frost hardy

• Benefits from fleece in frost pockets

• Without protection, it grows but very slowly

Chard

• Mature plants tolerate frost well

• Baby chard needs protection in cold microclimates

Radish

• Survives cold

• Stops growing without cover

• Best results in a cold frame or fleece tunnel

Tough Tip: Think of protection as a speed boost, not survival gear.

Peas & Chickpeas: Late Sowing for Spring Harvests

Peas

• Hardy but young tips are frost-sensitive

• In your food forest: use fleece

• On upper terraces: fine without cover

• Late December sowings do best with protection for germination

Chickpeas

• Ultra-hardy

• No cover needed

• Slow winter growth, fast spring rebound

Planting Bare-Root Trees in December

December is the golden month for bare-root planting in Mediterranean climates.

Why?

• The soil is moist and workable.

• Roots settle in without heat stress.

• Trees enter spring with a running start.

Microclimate detail worth including:In frost-prone zones like your food forest, cold air pools at the base of trees. Planting on slight mounds or raised rings helps keep the graft union above the worst of the cold.

Tough Tip: Mix compost with native soil, not instead of it. Overly rich planting holes create “root prisons.”

Planning Ahead: 5 December Chores That Shape the Whole Year

The food forest sits at the lowest point of the land and collects cold air on winter mornings. Understanding frost pockets helps prioritize protection and planting choices in December.

1. Protect Crops Smartly (Not Excessively)

Use protection where it provides growth insurance, especially:

• Lettuce

• Radish

• Young spinach & chard

• Fresh pea sowings

• Carrot germination in low cold pockets

But remember — many crops (broad beans, garlic, onions, chickpeas) do not require protection at all.

2. Ventilate Even in Winter

Humidity encourages mildew, especially under fleece.

Lift covers on sunny days to:

• Reduce condensation

• Strengthen stems

• Lower fungal pressure

3. Prepare Bare-Root Tree Holes Early

Digging in cold soil is harder. Preparing early improves structure and drainage.

4. Order Seed Catalogs

December is the planning month for crop rotation.Think in layers — what follows what.

5. Thin Seedlings From Earlier Sows

Remove overcrowded radish, carrots, and lettuce to reduce winter disease pressure.

December Builds the Garden You’ll Rely on Later

December may feel slow, but it is one of the most influential months in the Mediterranean garden. Every garlic clove, every broad bean, every winter lettuce seedling, and every bare-root tree planted now becomes part of a long-term system that rewards patience. Winter teaches rhythm. It teaches observation. It teaches us to work with frost, cold air drainage, and short days instead of fighting them.

When you choose the right crops, protect only what needs it, and give your soil and young plants the small boosts they deserve, December becomes a foundation — not a pause. Even the quietest winter beds are building strength for spring.

If you want to keep learning, avoid common winter mistakes, and gain confidence season after season, join our Kraut Crew. It’s where we share monthly guides, behind-the-scenes updates, and practical resilience-building tips that help you grow food all year long, no matter how unpredictable the weather gets.

Herman’s Tough Kraut Fixes: December Planting Guide FAQs for Mediterranean Gardens

Winter gardening in the Mediterranean is less about battling harsh weather and more about understanding how microclimates, short days, and cool soil temperatures affect growth. December brings unique challenges — frost pockets in low areas, slow germination, stalled lettuce, confused carrots, and uncertainty about when protection actually matters.

This December planting guide for Mediterranean gardeners tackles the most common issues, from crop protection to soil readiness, frost management, and timing mistakes that can set back spring harvests. Below you’ll find clear, practical fixes based on our own experience growing in a Zone 8a frost sink beside a running stream. If December has ever left you unsure, this section will give you confidence, clarity, and a winter rhythm that works.

Q: My winter lettuce leaves are tiny. What am I doing wrong?

A: Nothing. December growth is slow everywhere. Small leaves ≠ failure. Use a fleece tunnel to increase nighttime warmth and you’ll see growth double.

Q: Do I need to protect everything from frost?

A: No. Many crops (garlic, broad beans, onions, chickpeas) enjoy the cold. Protect selectively: lettuce, radish, spinach, and young peas benefit most.

Q: Our soil gets frosty in the morning. Is sowing still possible?

A: Absolutely. Frost in Mediterranean climates is shallow and brief. As long as soil isn’t frozen beyond 1–2 cm, roots keep growing. The sun usually clears frost within an hour — just like on your food forest terrace.

Q: My carrots aren’t germinating. Help?

A: December carrots germinate slowly.

Boost success with:

• Lightweight fleece for warmth

• Consistent moisture

• Patience

Think in weeks, not days.

Q: Are polytunnels worth it in winter?

A: Yes — but not for survival. They add speed. Spinach, lettuce, radish, and peas grow dramatically faster inside a tunnel or cold frame.

Q: Can I still plant citrus or fig trees now?

A: Yes — but choose calm, frost-free days. Protect the graft union during severe cold snaps. In frost pockets, consider planting on higher terraces instead.

Recommended Books & Resources

Books

• Gardening the Mediterranean Way: How to Create a Waterwise, Drought-Tolerant Garden by Heidi Gildemeister

  A clear, climate-smart guide to building a water-wise Mediterranean garden, with practical advice on soil, timing, and plant choices for summer-dry regions. Great for readers who want the “why” behind winter pacing and long-term planning, not just a crop list.

• Mediterranean Kitchen Garden: Growing Organic Fruit and Vegetables in a Hot, Dry Climate by Mariano Bueno

  Focused on growing edibles organically in hot, dry climates, with seasonal thinking that fits Mediterranean winter rhythms. It pairs perfectly with your December message: slow growth, smart protection, and setting up spring success.

• The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener by Niki Jabbour

  Very practical and beginner-friendly, showing how to keep harvests going with simple season extension and better timing. Ideal for readers who want a month-by-month mindset and a realistic plan for winter greens and sowing windows.

• The Winter Harvest Handbook by Eliot Coleman

  The classic for serious winter growing with unheated protection, especially tunnels and covers, with a strong “systems” approach. Excellent for readers who want to turn fleece and low tunnels into repeatable results, not luck.

Resources

• Floating row cover / frost blanket (Agribon AG-19)

  A lightweight “growth insurance” layer that protects tender leaves from frost bite while still letting light and air through. It is perfect for December lettuce, peas, and spinach when your garden sits in a frost pocket near a stream.

• Low-tunnel hoops kit (row cover hoops)

  Hoops keep fleece off the leaves, which reduces rot, improves airflow, and makes covers far easier to use on windy nights. This turns winter protection from a one-off scramble into a simple, reusable system.

• Row-cover clips / greenhouse clamps

  These small clips solve the most annoying winter problem: wind stealing your covers right when frost is forecast. Once you use them, you stop piling rocks on fabric and start getting consistent results.

• Tough Kraut Resources

  Your shortcut to the field-tested books, tools, and winter garden gear we actually trust. Skip the guesswork and build your December planting setup the smart way.