Monty Don suggests which 'last minute' plants we should plant before New Year

30 December 2023 , 14:11

583     0

Horticulturalist Monty Don shared his top tips on which plants to plant before the New Year (Image: BBC/Richard Hanmer)

Horticulturist and TV presenter Monty Don has recently revealed he is taking up his third gardening show with the BBC due to air in 2024 - and has shared tips on "last minute" plants to plant before the New Year.

With less than 48 hours of this year to go, it certainly would be "last minute," but if your green fingers are itching after using up the last of the supplies in the garden for your Christmas dinner, then this might just be the perfect time to plant some new plants. And if you don't know which ones, fear not because Monty Don has made some recommendations.

According to Monty, his garden is "not a fun place" in December with the unpredictable weather wreaking havoc on his garden, but it doesn't stop him from getting out into his garden on Boxing Day nonetheless to sow some seeds. In a post on his website, the horticulturist said: "I always sow some seeds on Boxing day - onions, chillies, some tomatoes - as much as a symbolic act as serious horticulture. Midwinter is past. the days are getting longer. Soon there will be snowdrops and aconites, crocus and hellebores."

He also recommends planting tulips and claimed that they are a "good idea" to get planted by Christmas. Not all plants can thrive in the cold and it's best to check before planting if you don't want to waste your time. Plants that can survive all year around, the ones that Monty has recommended are usually labelled perennials. According to Gardeners World, Perennial plants "live for more than two years" and that their Latin name means "through the years", they added: "Strictly speaking, trees and shrubs are perennials, but we tend to refer to perennials as long-lived plants."

Hellebores are also known for being sturdy and being able to hack the chilly weather. The Royal Horticultural Society said: "Hellebores produce their pretty, nodding blooms in winter and early spring, which makes them a valuable asset in any garden. Braving the chill, they are hardy, compact and low maintenance, and their flowers provide valuable nectar for early pollinators."

EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness

Onions can also be sown outdoors from late winter until mid-Spring, ideally, you would get to planting these as your soil is drying out and beginning to warm up.

Other early spring plants to get into your garden before March which don’t mind the cold so much include Eranthis hyemalis, Galanthus , Iris reticulata and Sarcococca.

Mariam Khan