Growing your own vegetables to eat on Christmas Day may seem like a lot of work, but it's actually pretty simple. It may be too late to plant and harvest many vegetables such as carrots, parsnips and rosemary, but there still are some which will be ready in time for December.

Gardening aficionado Craig Wilson, who is also the founder of Gardener's Dream, remarked: "An iconic Christmas staple. Surprisingly, a couple of potato varieties can still be planted and harvested just in time for Christmas. Varieties such as Charlotte and Maris Piper potatoes can withstand the cooler months which makes them the perfect choice for a winter dinner for their buttery and nutty flavours."

For an optimal yield, Wilson advises keeping soil temperatures chilly, noting that anything below 9C is ideal for maintaining a robust and steady growth. Moreover, he suggests planting potato seeds at least 20cm deep to achieve the best results.

Radishes make a delightful festive dish, especially when roasted with garlic and parsley, and they can complement parsnips and potatoes or be served as a standalone side.

Craig said: "Radishes are a quick-growing vegetable that you can harvest before Christmas. Varieties such as Mooli or Black Spanish are winter-hardy and can be sown in October for an early harvest in December."

He also mentioned that radishes flourish in the cooler temperatures of the winter months and do best in a sunny spot in the garden or on an allotment patch: "When growing these for your dinner, the only responsibility is to ensure the soil stays moist to avoid a bitter crop. By Christmas, you'll have a healthy amount of crisp and peppery radishes to add to your roast dishes."

Rocket, an excellent choice for a side salad or garnish during the festive season, can be planted now. It's best sown directly into the ground, flourishing in moist but well-drained soil with some partial sunlight.

Remarkably, rocket can be ready to harvest in just four to six weeks, ensuring it's prepared in time for December festivities. For those planning ahead for their Christmas dinner, spinach varieties like Giant Winter or Perpetual are also ideal for sowing in October, promising a fresh, home-grown addition to the holiday table.

Planting for Christmas

With Christmas fast approaching, you might want to plan your seed sowing in advance to avoid being left without enough veg and spuds on the day. While it's easy to get overwhelmed with the garden all year round, succession planting can be a good way to make sure you have a steady flow of fresh produce. For your Christmas dinner though, it might be easier to stick to a strict sowing schedule. This will ensure you have enough vegetables to make your Christmas dinner extra special.

Grow Your Own Christmas Potatoes

What is Christmas without roast potatoes? A rather sad day, that's what it is. But not to panic, if you and your family prefer the homegrown kind then you still have time to get them planted. Potatoes are some of the easiest vegetables to plant and are a great start for beginners needing easy gardening tips.

For the best harvest, keep soil temperatures cold. Anything below 9 degrees Celsius is best to keep up a healthy and consistent crop and be sure to plant your potato seeds at least 20cm deep for the best results.

Radishes for Christmas

Now radishes aren't exactly going to be part of your Christmas centrepiece but they're an amazing underrated addition to go with dinner. As a festive dish, radishes are great when roasted alongside garlic and parsley. They can either be added alongside parsnips and potatoes or served on their own as a side dish. Radishes are a quick-growing vegetable that you can harvest right before Christmas. Varieties such as ‘Mooli’ or ‘Black Spanish’ are notably winter hardy and can be sown in October for an early harvest in December.

Rocket Salad

Salad growing no matter the occasion is a great small garden idea as you don't need much room for an impressive harvest. And while you might not think of salad when you imagine your Christmas dinner, a smokey and delicious side salad will go down a treat when serving cold meats on Boxing Day. Rocket seeds can be sown directly into pre-prepped rich soil. Rocket thrives in moist but well-drained soil and in partial sunlight, which is perfect for October. If planting outside, it’s probably best to cover over to protect from winter frosts. It can actually be harvested in as little as 4-6 weeks which gives you plenty of time to get it ready for its introduction as your new favourite Christmas side dish.

Time to Get Planting!

So get out there and start planting for Christmas! You won't regret it. And remember, you don't need to be an expert gardener to grow your own Christmas dinner. Even beginners can have success with these easy-to-grow vegetables. Happy planting!