When you think of Christmas what do you see? A big Christmas tree covered with fairy lights? Snow falling on the ground? Or, a colourful plate of Christmas vegetables?
There's no denying that the best part of Christmas is eating a delicious dinner, right? However, as the world advances and more people are moving towards online food orders when their food is delivered to their front door, we're becoming detached from how food is produced.
When you sit with your vegetables in front of you on your plate do you ever wonder how they got there? Or, maybe you're already growing your own. Well, no matter which option you are, you're reading this because you've decided you want to grow your own Christmas dinner.
Thankfully, you've come to the right place. This article will give you all the essential information for growing, caring, and nurturing your vegetables so you can treat your family and friends to a delicious Christmas meal next year!
Ready to start? Let's break down the list of the most popular vegetables used during the festive season...
First, we're going to start with the sunset coloured carrot.
How to Grow Carrots From Seeds
Carrots are a staple in any home because they're delicious and add a lovely colourful touch to your dinner plate. Not only are they popular, but they are also available in different varieties.
To begin, you need to sow carrot seeds around March-June. However, there are two types of carrots you can choose from the early varieties and late varieties. For the early variety, you can sow the seeds in spring and will be ready to pick after 10 weeks.
Whereas if you prefer the late variety then you can sow the seeds at the end of spring but you'll have to wait 14 weeks before you can pick them.
So, how do you grow carrots once the seeds are ready?
Growing Carrots
Soil: light, well-drained soil
Plant: directly into the ground at 1cm and space each seed 5-8cm apart
Water: cover with soil and water well
Care: make sure weeds are not surrounding the carrots
Problems
As long as you follow these simple steps you can't go wrong growing carrots. Although, you might occasionally run into some problems during the growing period. Luckily, carrots are quite easy to grow but they can be affected by carrot fly.
What is carrot fly?
These fly maggots eat tunnels into the crop and can damage your carrots. To avoid this you can place a mesh fence around the area as long as it's 45cm high.
How to Grow Potatoes From Seeds
Potatoes are the ultimate comfort food which is why you need them for your Christmas meal. The great thing about potatoes is that they come in many different forms such as new potatoes, roasters, and humble potatoes.
Do you have a favourite? If so, then why not grow it!
You don't even need a huge acre of land, you can grow potatoes in pots on your balcony or patio. Before you begin planting you need to decide if you'll be planting new potatoes or maincrop potatoes.
For new potatoes, you have to prepare them in mid-March. Whereas maincrop potatoes should be planted in April. That being said, it depends on where you live and the climate condition you have for growing vegetables.
If you live in a hot environment there's a possibility of growing the third batch of potatoes in late summer and still being able to have them for Christmas!
However, for an early crop, you can always chit your potatoes. Check out our other article for more information on chitting potatoes.
Growing Potatoes
Soil: rich soil in a sunny location
Plant: large pots or 12cm deep and 30cm apart
Water: regular waters especially in warm weather
Care: cover the shoots with soil
Problems
There are only a few problems that come with growing potatoes. For example, slugs and potato blight. One of the best ways to avoid pests and diseases is making sure you plant potatoes in fresh soil every year if you plan on repeating crops.
That's all you need to make delicious potatoes for winter!
How to Grow Parsnips From Seeds
If you want a bit of a challenge then growing parsnips from scratch could be for you. Firstly, they can take many weeks to germinate but there are ways to speed up the process so you can have your crop in time.
So, what do you need to sow parsnip seeds?
You need seeds, a polythene bag, peat-free compost, a trowel, and string.
Fill up half the polythene bag with your peat-free compost. Then, place the seeds onto the surface of the compost.
Secondly, gently mix the seeds and compost together in the bag. You need to make sure that the seeds are evenly dispersed between the compost. Then, you need to place the bag in a dark, warm spot and leave it for four days.
After waiting four days you can check on your seeds. By this time they should have germinated and there should be signs of the seeds growing through the compost.
Remove your seeds from the bag and place them in the ground around 10cm apart from each other. Cover them with a thin layer of soil and water them. Then, watch them grow!
Growing Parsnips
Soil: moist soil
Plant: a sunny location that is stone free
Water: don't overwater the soil
Care: no feeding and should be weed-free
Problems
Have you ever noticed a brown, orange, or purple coloured rot at the top of your parsnip? Then, it might be a parsnip canker. This disease is caused by drought, overly rich soil, and damage to the crown of the parsnip.
The good news is, you can remedy this problem with proper drainage, avoid damaging the root, and wait until the correct time to sow the seeds. You can sow parsnip seeds from April-June.
How to Grow Swede From Seeds
Do know that swede belongs to the same family as cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts? If you've not tried swede then this year is the perfect time to try it.
Once swede is fully grown it reaches the size of a large apple. It has a gorgeous blend of purple skin, orange and yellow flesh, and produces small leaves on the ground. Plus, it has an unusual but tasty flavour of carrot, turnip, and radish combined!
Intrigued?
You normally sow swedes seeds in May and harvest in early October. But, what do they need to thrive?
Growing Swede
Soil: rich in nutrients (expert tip: sprinkle with blood and fish!)
Plant: plant 2cm deep
Water: regularly water and feed halfway through the season
Care: needs moisture and consistent watering to avoid ruining the taste
Problems
Cabbage root fly is the most common problem with growing swede. All you need to do is use horticultural fleece to protect your crop. Sometimes swede can also experience flea beetle and mildew but maintaining proper moisture and watering should avoid this.
How to Grow Brussel Sprouts From Seeds
Of course, no Christmas dinner is complete with a bundle of Brussel sprouts. Do you have problems feeding your kid this vegetable? Then, maybe growing them from scratch with them will encourage them to get excited about this vegetable!
If not for kids, then try growing Brussel sprouts as a New Year resolution...
You should start planting Brussel sprouts in late spring and early summer. Then, they can be harvested about four months later which leaves you plenty of time to have them for the cold season.
Before planting them you can keep the seeds inside from mid-late May for four weeks until they are ready to be planted.
Growing Brussel Sprouts
Soil: soil with additional manure with lots of sun exposure
Plant: space 60cm apart
Water: water consistently
Care: mound soil around the base of stems for support
Problems
Clubroot and caterpillars can cause problems when growing Brussel sprouts. For clubroot, you should provide enough drainage and add a little lime to the soil. Whereas for caterpillars, you can place netting to stop them from getting to your crop.
How to Grow Broccoli From Seeds
Adding a little green to your Christmas plate will make your meal even more delicious. And, what's better than broccoli as a green vegetable?
Even though growing broccoli can seem daunting as it can be tricky to get the process right, you don't need to worry about getting wrong as this step-by-step guide will help you. To begin with, you should start with them indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost of the year.
This is especially important if you live in a cold area. However, if you live in a warmer location you can plant them in the soil in early spring. The good thing is broccoli seeds are sturdy so they can survive lower temperatures if winter lasts longer into spring.
If you want to make sure that the seeds germinate properly then try soaking them in warm water for 12-24 hours when you first buy them.
When your seeds are ready to be planted you'll have to fill your seed tray with a high-quality seed-starting mixture.
Are you using new seeds? If so, you can simply plant as many as you bought. However, if they are old then you want to plant 2-3 per hole for the best crop growth.
- Place the Seeds in the Hole
You can make a shallow hole in the mixture with your finger and drop the seed into it. Of course, this is only beneficial if you're planting them in a tray!
Gently cover the holes with soil.
Wate the soil until 20 minutes after when it should have absorbed the moisture thoroughly.
Finally, you have to place a lid over the top to ensure it doesn't dry out over time. Afterwards, you should place it in a warm location.
This is the easiest way to start out planting broccoli seeds to see how you like them and to experiment with the seeds! Alternatively, you can plant them in the ground. So, you'll need the following:
Growing Broccoli
Soil: very light area with moist soil
Plant: space 12-24 inches apart
Water: evenly water to keep the soil moist
Care: make sure they have enough air circulation
Problems
Clubroot can also happen with broccoli so you have to ensure there's enough drainage and add some lime to the soil.
How to Grow Cabbage From Seeds
Now you might not think that cabbage is very exciting but it can be very tasty. So, you want to make sure that cabbage is added to your Christmas meal list. It's high in vitamin C and fibre so it brings a great amount of nutrition to your dinner.
You should plant your seeds 50-60 days before the last frost. Therefore, you show sow the seeds in mid-late summer.
Soil: well-draining soil
Plant: lots of sunshine and light
Water: water every 10 days
Care: love nitrogen to thrive
Problems
After all your hard work, the last thing you want is for pests to ruin your crop. That's why it's important that you keep an eye out for any signs of flea beetles, cabbage roots, or cutworms. The best way to protect cabbage is to cover them with a floating row cover.
How to Grow Cauliflower From Seeds
The first thing you need to realise about cauliflower is that it's sensitive to temperature. It can be too warm or too cold or it might not grow properly. However, it makes for a delicious winter vegetable!
Cauliflower seeds grow the best at 15℃ and no less or they will die. Again, you should plant Cauliflower 4-7 weeks before frost. Also, seed germination usually takes 8-10 days.
If you place them under lights it might help speed up the process!
Growing Cauliflower
Soil: not too fertile soil
Plant: 60cm apart for large cauliflowers and 15cm for smaller ones
Water: every 10 days
Care: add high nitrogen fertilizer when growing well
Problems
Young cauliflowers are prone to aphids and cabbage worms. If you think your crop might have these problems then you should use a plant-friendly pesticide.
How to Grow Horseradish From Seeds
If you're looking for a vegetable that you can harvest all year round then horseradish is the best option. Your seeds should be kept inside in January and February and planted in April. Basically, as long as the soil is between 7-23°C.
Growing Horseradish
Soil: well-drained, warm soil
Plant: 20cm apart
Water: once a week
Care: 1 cup of organic fertilizer every 3m of a row
Problems
You'll be able to hear that there are no common problems with growing horseradish so it's an easy, simple choice!
Now you have everything you need to grow your own Christmas dinner for next year so you can surprise everyone with a wonderful homecooked meal picked straight from your garden!
Happy Planting!
