What Crops, Herbs, and Foliage to Harvest and Forage for Christmas (and How to Grow Them for Next Year)

The festive season is upon us, and there’s no better way to add a personal touch to your holiday preparations than by using fresh, home-grown, or foraged crops, herbs, and foliage. Whether you’re looking to create a show-stopping Christmas dinner or stunning natural decorations, here’s your guide to what to harvest and forage now—and how to grow these essentials for next year if you’re starting from scratch.

Harvesting for Christmas: What’s Ready Now?

Crops

Brussels Sprouts
These classic Christmas dinner staples are at their peak in December. Harvest them from the bottom of the stalk upwards for maximum freshness.

Kale and Winter Greens
Hardy and nutritious, kale and winter greens make excellent side dishes or can be blended into festive soups, and for tips on growing them, check out this guide.

Leeks
Perfect for hearty pies or stuffing recipes, leeks can be pulled fresh from the ground.

Parsnips
Frost-sweetened parsnips are ideal for roasting. Dig them up carefully to avoid damaging their roots.

Herbs

Rosemary
Adds a fragrant touch to roasts and festive cocktails. Harvest sprigs sparingly, leaving enough for regrowth.

Sage
A must-have for stuffing and winter stews. Snip only the newer leaves for the best flavor.

Thyme
Perfect for seasoning roasted vegetables or creating herby decorations like wreaths or garlands.

Foliage

Holly and Ivy
Add festive flair to your home with their iconic green and red hues. Be mindful of local foraging guidelines when collecting.

Eucalyptus
Grown in pots, this aromatic foliage add style and elegance to your table settings or floral arrangements.

Conifer Clippings
Use offcuts from your Christmas tree to craft garlands or festive centerpieces. We love this guide by Jessica Brigham.

How to Grow These for Next Year

If your garden isn’t quite brimming with these festive goodies yet, now is the perfect time to start planning for next Christmas!

Crops
Start sowing Brussels sprouts, kale, and parsnips in spring. For compact crops like leeks, consider using Hortiwool Garden Pads to improve soil health and retain moisture.

Herbs
Plant perennial herbs like rosemary, sage, and thyme in well-drained soil or pots. To ensure healthy growth, try Hortiwool Garden Pads, which add nutrition and provide better root aeration.

Foliage
Grow holly, ivy, and conifers in your garden as year-round decorative plants. For potted eucalyptus, use Hortiwool Garden Pads to maintain soil quality and manage watering.

**The Magic of Foraging**
If you’re foraging this Christmas, always follow local guidelines and forage sustainably. Collect only what you need, leaving enough for wildlife and plant regrowth. Avoid areas close to busy roads or contaminated soil to ensure your finds are safe to use.

Plan Ahead with Hortiwool

Explore our Hortiwool Garden Pad range, perfect for nurturing crops, herbs, and foliage from seedling to harvest, to improve your plant growth next year. Made from sustainable natural materials, they’re ideal for improving plant growth while being kind to the environment.

This Christmas, enjoy the satisfaction of bringing home-grown or foraged treasures to your table. Discover more gardening tips on our Woolly Gardener's Guide and subscribe for updates! With a little planning and the right tools, next year’s festive preparations could be even more abundant and rewarding.

Happy gardening and foraging from all of us at Hortiwool!