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.

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

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

There’s something special about seasoning your holiday feast with herbs you’ve grown yourself. Whether you have a sunny windowsill or a few pots on the patio, growing Thanksgiving herbs like sage, thyme, and rosemary brings both beauty and flavor to your table. 🪴 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐎𝐰𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 Fresh herbs elevate holiday dishes with vibrant aroma and taste — and container gardening makes them easy to keep close at hand. These Mediterranean classics thrive in pots and can even move indoors when temperatures drop. 🌱 𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐠 Why it shines: Sage’s soft, silvery-green leaves are the hallmark flavor of Thanksgiving stuffing. Its earthy aroma pairs beautifully with poultry and roasted vegetables. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞: * Use a medium pot (10–12 inches) with excellent drainage. * Place in full sun and water only when the top inch of soil is dry. * Pinch off flower spikes to keep growth leafy and full. 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐩: Clip a few leaves just before cooking for the most intense flavor. 🌿 𝐓𝐡𝐲𝐦𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 Why it shines: Thyme adds subtle, savory notes to almost any dish — from roasted potatoes to turkey gravy. Its tiny leaves pack a big punch! 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞: * Plant in a shallow pot or shared herb container. * Loves full sun and well-draining soil. * Don’t overwater; thyme thrives on a little neglect. 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐩: Snip stems just above a leaf node — it’ll encourage bushier regrowth for winter. 🌸 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 Rosemary’s pine-like fragrance brings warmth to roasted meats and breads. It’s also a stunning ornamental plant that looks right at home in festive displays. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞: * Choose a tall pot to accommodate its deep roots. * Provide bright light and let soil dry slightly between waterings. * Bring indoors before frost for a fragrant winter windowsill plant. 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐩: Cut young sprigs — older stems can get woody and lose their potency. 🍽️ 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 Combine your homegrown herbs to make a Fresh Herb Butter:

Your container garden has worked hard all season and now it’s time to reap the rewards! As Thanksgiving approaches, there’s no better feeling than walking outside, snipping a few herbs, or pulling a handful of fresh veggies from your pots to use in your holiday dishes. Whether your garden is on the porch, patio, or balcony, there’s still plenty to gather before winter settles in. 🌿 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 🌿 𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐞 The star of the stuffing! Sage’s soft, silvery leaves add earthy flavor to turkey, potatoes, and roasted veggies. Clip the top few leaves and leave the rest. It’ll keep producing indoors if you bring it in before frost. 🌿 𝐓𝐡𝐲𝐦𝐞 A Thanksgiving workhorse that pairs beautifully with nearly everything from turkey, gravy, carrots, or even homemade bread. Snip whole sprigs, dry a few for later, and let the plant rest between harvests. 🌿 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 This hardy herb thrives in cool weather and fills the air with its piney scent. Use fresh sprigs to flavor roasted meats or to garnish your table décor. It transitions easily indoors if you want to keep it going through winter. 🌿 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲 Often overlooked as “just a garnish,” parsley adds bright, fresh flavor to stuffing, soups, and sauces. Harvest the outer stems first and let new growth continue in the center. 🥕 𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 🥬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 (𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐡, 𝐀𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚, 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬) These quick-growing greens love cool weather. Harvest outer leaves as needed for salads or sautés. The more you pick, the more they grow! 🥕𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐬 If you planted shorter or “mini” varieties in containers, now’s the time to pull them up! Cool soil makes them sweeter — perfect for roasting with a drizzle of honey. 🌶️ 𝐏𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 Even if your pepper plants are slowing down, you can still pick the last few ripe ones. Dice them into stuffing or slice for a colorful side dish. 🌿 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐎𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 They add fresh, mild flavor to mashed potatoes or soups. Snip what you need — the bulbs will regrow for a second harvest if the weather stays mild.