Nothing says “December comfort” quite like a warm mug of hot cocoa. But you know what makes it even better? Adding fresh, homegrown mint from your own container garden. Mint and chocolate were absolutely meant to be together, especially on a cold winter day. So in honor of National Hot Cocoa Day, let’s talk about how to grow your own mint indoors, harvest it all winter long, and elevate your cocoa to fancy-café levels. 🌱 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛 Mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow indoors in December because: ✔ It thrives in lower winter light ✔ Loves cooler temperatures ✔ Bounces back fast after harvesting ✔ Makes your house smell amazing ✔ Works in both soil and water (yep, you can root it in a jar!) If you’ve struggled with basil or rosemary indoors, mint is your redemption arc. 🪴 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐕𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐚 🍫 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭 The BEST choice tastes exactly like a minty chocolate bar. Perfect for cocoa, brownies, cookies, and holiday treats. 🌿 𝐏𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐭 Classic, strong, refreshing flavor that’s perfect for December vibes. 🌱 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐭 Sweeter and milder — great for those who like a softer flavor. 𝐏𝐆𝐒 𝐓𝐢𝐩: Growing more than one variety? Make a “Mint Trio” planter and taste-test them! 🌤️ 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 (𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐅𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐲!) Mint is surprisingly forgiving: 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬: * 3–5 hours of indirect sunlight OR * A small LED grow light for 6–8 hours 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬: * Kitchen windowsill * Bright bathroom * Anywhere near a north or east-facing window Mint tolerates lower light better than most herbs — a December champion! 💧 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 Mint likes 𝐦𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐠𝐠𝐲 soil. 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧: * The top 1 inch feels dry * Leaves begin to droop slightly * The pot feels light If using a grow light or the heater runs nonstop, you may water more often. Mint also loves humidity, so it pairs well with other herbs in group pots. 🪴 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 If you can’t find starter plants, you can still start mint today. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰: 1. Buy a fresh bundle of mint.

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:

December may be cold and gray, but your kitchen doesn’t have to be! Microgreens are the perfect winter pick-me-up. Fast, flavorful, and packed with nutrients. And the best part? They grow beautifully indoors, even on the darkest December days. If you want a fresh harvest before Christmas, before New Year’s, or even before next week… microgreens are your new best friend. Let’s make some holiday magic in a tray! 🎄 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 Winter growing doesn’t get easier than this: ✔ Harvest in 7–12 days ✔ No fancy equipment needed ✔ Thrive under low winter light with a tiny LED or window ✔ Grow on countertops, shelves, or even holiday-themed trays ✔ Perfect garnish for holiday dishes And they add a festive pop of color with bright greens, ruby stems, and spicy flavors that wake up winter meals. 🥗 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 These varieties grow fast and bring big flavor to December dishes: ✨ 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝟕 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬) * Radish microgreens (peppery, crisp) * Broccoli (sweet, mild) * Kohlrabi (crunchy, purple stems) ✨ 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐬 (𝟏𝟎–𝟏𝟐 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬) * Pea shoots (sweet, curly tendrils) * Sunflower (nutty, crunchy) * Mustard (spicy holiday heat!) ✨ 𝐆𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 * Basil microgreens for pasta & appetizers * Cilantro for soups, salsas & roasts * Arugula for salads & charcuterie boards 𝐇𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐩: Mix radish + arugula + broccoli for a gorgeous “Holiday Blend.” 🪴 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 (𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥!) * A shallow container or tray (𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑙𝑦) * Seed starting mix or coconut coir * Spray bottle * Microgreen seeds * A sunny window or small grow light * Optional: A lightweight cover (lid, tray, or paper towel) Microgreens are forgiving. No drainage? No problem. Just keep water light and even. 🧽 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩-𝐛𝐲-𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩: 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 1️⃣ 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐲 Add 1–1.5 inches of light, fluffy potting mix or coir. Flatten gently with no compacting. 2️⃣ 𝐌𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 Mist the soil until evenly damp but not soggy.

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