December might feel like the wrong time to think about fresh-picked veggies… But for container gardeners? It’s actually a perfect time to grow the cutest (and tastiest!) mini root crops right inside the house. Carrots and radishes LOVE cool weather, and with the short December days, small pots, and indoor conditions, they grow surprisingly well, often faster than you’d expect. If you’ve ever dreamed of snipping your own winter radishes or pulling adorable baby carrots straight from a pot on your counter… you’re in the right place. Let’s dig in! 🥕 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐬 & 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 Indoor conditions in winter naturally match what these crops enjoy: ✔ Cooler temps ✔ Consistent moisture ✔ No pests ✔ Controlled environment ✔ No risk of frost or hard freezes Plus, radishes grow in 25–30 days and many carrot varieties mature in 45–60 days, making them ideal for winter windowsill gardening. 🌱 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 The secret is choosing compact, fast-growing types. ✨ 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐬 (𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐭–𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲) * Parisian: round, sweet, and perfect for shallow pots * Thumbelina: marble-sized carrots that grow quickly * Tonda di Parigi: old-fashioned and delicious * Little Finger: slim 3–4" carrots ideal for narrow pots ✨ 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 (𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐥-𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬) * Cherry Belle: the classic red radish * French Breakfast: mild sweetness, gorgeous coloring * Easter Egg: fun variety of colors * Sparkler: crunchy and fast These varieties don't need deep soil and mature quickly making them perfect for winter experiments. 🪴 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞!) 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬: * Pot depth: 6–8 inches * Width: any size, even small wide bowls * Drainage: essential 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐬: * Pot depth: 8–10 inches * Wide containers help with spacing * Excellent drainage required 𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐭𝐢𝐩: Use lightweight plastic pots in winter as they warm quicker than ceramic. 🥄 𝐒𝐨𝐢𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐱 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 Root veggies want loose, fluffy, airy soil. Hard, compacted mixes = stubby, twisted roots.

Did you know that December 3rd is National Green Bean Casserole Day? Yes, the creamy, crunchy, cozy classic has its own holiday… and honestly? It deserves it. Whether you love the traditional Campbell’s version, Grandma’s upgraded version, or the “we’re experimenting this year” version, today is all about honoring the dish that appears on more holiday tables than Santa’s cookies. But since this is The Potted Garden Society… we’re taking a fun garden twist on it! Let’s dig in. 🌱 𝟏. 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫? Surprisingly… yes (with a few conditions). While green beans are a warm-season crop, bush varieties adapt surprisingly well to indoor conditions with a grow light and a deep enough pot. If you want to try an indoor winter bean experiment: * Choose a bush bean (not pole) * Use a pot 10–12 inches deep * Add a small clip-on grow light * Keep temps above 65°F Will they be ready in time for a December 3rd casserole? Probably not, but the idea is too fun not to mention! This makes a great “Try Something New” winter challenge for adventurous PGS members. 🍄 𝟐. 𝐈𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫… 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬! You may not be harvesting fresh beans right now, but you can grow delicious additions to your casserole: 🌿 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰: * Thyme * Parsley * Chives * Rosemary Use them to add fresh flavor to classic dishes: * Thyme for the cream sauce * Parsley for garnish * Chives for brightness * Rosemary (sparingly) for a cozy winter twist * Your holiday casserole just got a garden upgrade. 🔥 𝟑. 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 ✨ 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐞 Share with the community your family recipe for this time honored dish. Consider it your holiday gift to our container gardening family. 🥄 We'll start with our simple garden inspired Green Bean Casserole. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 * 2 cans green beans (or frozen) * 1 can cream of mushroom soup * ½ cup milk * 1 cup crispy fried onions * Fresh thyme or parsley from your indoor herb pots

Fresh lettuce in December? Absolutely. Indoor lettuce pots are one of the easiest ways to enjoy crisp, homegrown greens even when the outside world is cold, dark, and decidedly not “garden-friendly.” The trick is keeping your lettuce pot happy through the whole month, not just the first week. With the right setup and a few simple habits, you can harvest tender leaves over and over, all winter long. Here’s how to turn your indoor lettuce pot into a thriving, leafy, all-month-long salad machine. 🌤️𝟏. 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 (𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬) Lettuce is more light-hungry than people expect it to be, especially in December. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: * A bright south-facing window * A grow light placed 6–10 inches above the leaves * Under-cabinet LED lighting on a kitchen counter Lettuce gets leggy FAST when light is too weak. Weak light = stretched stems, floppy leaves, bitter flavor. 𝐀𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫: ✔ 10–12 hours of bright light daily ✔ Even coverage across the whole pot If you notice your lettuce leaning, getting pale, or reaching, add a small grow light. It makes a huge difference. 🌱 𝟐. 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞-𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐟 𝐢𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝) For ongoing December harvests, choose cut-and-come-again types: ⭐ 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: * Black-Seeded Simpson * Salad Bowl (green or red) * Oak Leaf * Red Sails * Buttercrunch (semi-loose head, very tender) * Mizuna * Baby romaine blends * Mesclun mixes These keep producing for weeks when harvested correctly. 💧 𝟑. 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐌𝐮𝐜𝐡, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 Lettuce loves moisture, but not soggy soil. 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧: * The top 1 inch feels dry * Leaves start to slightly soften * The pot feels lighter 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝: ✘ Watering on a strict schedule ✘ Letting water sit in the saucer ✘ Letting the soil fully dry out Winter air is dry, but winter growth is slow — adjust watering to match. 🌬️ 𝟒. 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐈𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐥 (𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭!) If your home runs warm during the holidays, move the pot to a cooler area. 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐬: 𝟔𝟎–𝟕𝟎°𝐅 = cooler is better

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If you’re looking for a simple, beautiful, and meaningful holiday gift for a gardener or a foodie, this is it. Mason jar herb holders are charming, budget-friendly, and endlessly customizable. They’re perfect for kitchen counters, windowsills, or that cozy holiday nook where people love to display greenery in December. Plus… they smell amazing. And they look like you spent way more time and money than you actually did. Let’s make some magic with jars, herbs, and a little December creativity! 🌿 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 You don’t need a crafting studio. Just a few simple items: * Mason jars (pint or quart size work best) * Fresh herb plants (rosemary, thyme, basil, parsley, mint, your choice!) * Potting mix for indoor herbs * Small stones or coarse gravel (for drainage) * Twine, ribbon, or jute * Chalkboard labels or gift tags Optional extras: * Fairy lights * Mini ornaments * Cinnamon sticks * Burlap strips * Holiday charms 🌱 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐀𝐝𝐝 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐲 Mason jars don’t have drainage holes… but that’s an easy fix. Layer the bottom with: ✔ ½–𝟏 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 — this helps prevent root rot ✔ A thin piece of mesh or coffee filter if you want to keep soil from sifting down This setup doesn’t replace proper watering habits, but it gives the herbs a fighting chance in a no-hole container. 🪴 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐏𝐨𝐭 𝐔𝐩 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 Fill the jar with potting mix about halfway, then gently remove the herb from its nursery pot. Loosen the roots lightly, they’re often tight when bought this time of year. Place the herb inside and add soil around it, stopping 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐦. 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫: * Rosemary (very festive!) * Thyme * Parsley * Mint * Chives * Oregano * Sage (smells like Christmas dinner!) ✨ 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐫 ...𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐈𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲-𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲! Now the fun part. Here are some December-friendly decorating ideas: 🎄 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 * Wrap the jar with a strip of burlap * Tie a piece of jute or twine around the neck * Add a sprig of pine or a cinnamon stick