What to plant in December

In zones 3–7, December is for winter sowing, cold frame production of overwintering greens, and seed/bare-root ordering. In zones 8–9, the cool-season garden is at full production. In zones 9–11, almost any vegetable except heat-demanding summer crops is worth planting now. See y

December gardening is real gardening in zones 8–11. For colder zones, it's structure work and seed catalog season. Either way, there's something worth doing this month.

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What to do in December by zone

Zones 3–5 (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, northern New England)

December is the quiet planning month. The ground is frozen in most of these zones. Activity is indoor:

Order seeds: December is the best time to order seeds for the following season. Seed companies process orders through the winter and ship in spring, but popular varieties sell out. Per University of Minnesota Extension, "order seeds in December–January to ensure availability of the most sought-after varieties."

Build your planting schedule: Using your last frost date (May 15–30 for most of zone 4–5), work backward to calculate indoor start dates for each crop. Create a written schedule now rather than improvising in March.

Check cold frame progress: Cold frames started in fall can produce mâche, spinach, and kale through winter in zone 5 if the frame is insulated. Per Penn State Extension, "a cold frame lined with foam insulation board maintains temperatures 15–20°F above outside air temperature."

Zones 6–7 (Philadelphia, Long Island, DC, Nashville)

Winter sowing: Continue or begin winter sowing in clear plastic containers (milk jugs, takeout containers) for cold-stratification-requiring seeds. December sowings emerge in spring at the right time. Good candidates: coneflower, black-eyed Susan, columbine, snapdragon, pansies, larkspur, sweet William.

Cold frame and floating row cover: Mâche, overwintered spinach, and cold-tolerant lettuce varieties continue growing (slowly) through December in a cold frame in zone 7. Per Penn State Extension, "spinach planted in fall will continue slow growth in a cold frame through December and January" in zone 7.

Indoor seed starting (late December, zone 7): By December 25–31, zone 7 gardeners are 12–14 weeks from their April 1–15 last frost. This is the right window for starting leeks and onions indoors (10–12 weeks before transplanting). Starting onions the last week of December ensures stocky transplants ready for March transplanting.

Order bare-root plants: December is the primary ordering season for bare-root roses, fruit trees, asparagus crowns, and berry bushes. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, "order bare-root stock in December–January for best selection; shipping occurs in late winter."

Zone 8 (Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas)

Per Clemson HGIC, "December is an active month for cool-season vegetables in zone 8." The garden is producing.

What's actively growing:

• Kale, collards, Swiss chard
• Broccoli, cabbage (planted in August–September)
• Spinach, lettuce, arugula
• Carrots and beets maturing

What to plant in December:

• Direct sow spinach, lettuce, radishes, arugula
• Transplant onion seedlings
• Start tomato and pepper seeds indoors in late December for February–March transplanting (zone 8b)

Garlic: If not planted in October–November, early December planting is the last reasonable window for zone 8 garlic.

Zone 9 (Houston, Gulf Coast, Sacramento)

Per Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, December is "one of the most productive months for the South Texas and Gulf Coast vegetable garden."

Plant in December:

• Onion transplants: December is the primary onion planting month in South Texas. Per Texas A&M AgriLife, "short-day onion varieties (like Texas 1015, 'Sweet Yellow') should be transplanted in December for March–April bulb harvest."
• Lettuce, spinach, arugula, Asian greens, beets, carrots, turnips
• Broccoli and cabbage transplants (continued from November)
• Strawberry plants: December is the right transplanting window for zone 9 strawberry production in spring

Zone 10–11 (Miami, Hawaii, extreme South Texas)

Per UF IFAS Extension, December is "an excellent planting month" for South Florida. Plant the full range of cool-season vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, beets, carrots) as well as warm-season crops that other zones plant in summer (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash — but choose heat-tolerant varieties; summer heat will end them by April–May in zone 10).

December indoor seed starting for zones 5–7

Onions and leeks: start December 21–31

The optimal onion indoor start date for zone 7 (last frost April 1–15) is 12–14 weeks before transplanting: December 21–January 21. Per Penn State Extension, "onions need 10–12 weeks of indoor growth with strong light to develop the pencil-thick stems needed for good bulb production."

Starting onions in the last week of December is slightly earlier than many guides recommend, but in my zone 7a experience, a December 28 start produces transplants ready for outdoor planting in late March — exactly right timing.

Leeks need even longer: 14–16 weeks. Start leeks by December 15–21 for zone 7 outdoor transplanting in April.

Pansy seeds: December start for April bloom

Per Penn State Extension, "pansies take 12–14 weeks from seed to transplant size." A December 15 sowing produces transplants ready for late-March outdoor planting in zone 7. This is the earliest practical flower start date.

December ornamental tasks

Protect tender evergreens

In zones 5–7, winter winds and alternating freeze-thaw cycles can desiccate and damage broadleaf evergreens. Per Penn State Extension, "anti-desiccant sprays applied in late November or December reduce moisture loss through leaves of hollies, boxwoods, and rhododendrons."

Protect young arborvitae, cedars, and other evergreens from deer browse and winter burn. Per Penn State Extension, wrapping arborvitae with burlap "reduces wind desiccation and deer damage."

Water newly planted trees before hard freezes

Newly planted trees and shrubs planted in fall need one thorough watering in early December before the ground freezes completely. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, "newly planted woody plants need deep watering going into winter to prevent desiccation." This is especially important for evergreens.

Leave seed heads for wildlife

Per University of Minnesota Extension, "leaving ornamental grass plumes, coneflower seed heads, and other persistent seed heads through winter provides critical food for wintering birds." My black-eyed Susan and coneflower heads stay up until March in zone 7a for the finches.

What NOT to do in December (zones 5–8)

Do not prune spring-flowering shrubs. Forsythia, lilac, azalea, viburnum, and all other spring bloomers have set their flower buds. Any pruning in December removes those buds.

Do not fertilize. Per Penn State Extension, "late-season fertilizer applications push new growth that is killed by frost, weakening the plant overall." The only exception: a slow-release fertilizer for an established overwintering cold frame or indoor container plants.

Do not start tomatoes or peppers indoors. The timing is wrong for zones 5–7 until February–March. December starts produce root-bound seedlings by spring.

State planting calendars

• New York: /planting/ny/
• New Jersey: /planting/nj/
• Texas: /planting/tx/
• Florida: /planting/fl/

Common mistakes

Frequently asked

Is there anything worth growing in a cold frame in December (zone 6)?

Yes. Mâche (corn salad) and established spinach planted in fall continue growing slowly in a cold frame through December and January in zone 6. Per Penn State Extension, "mâche is the most reliable winter cold frame green" because it tolerates temperatures down to 15–20°F under cover. Tatsoi and claytonia (miner's lettuce) are also viable cold frame winter crops.

Should I plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs in December indoors?

Paperwhite narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus) don't need cold stratification — they bloom in 4–6 weeks at room temperature. Plant in a container of stones and water (or potting mix) in December for blooms in January–February. They're not hardy outdoors in zones 3–7 but make excellent forced indoor bulbs.

What seeds should I buy in December?

Prioritize seeds with limited availability: specific tomato heirloom varieties ('Brandywine', 'Cherokee Purple', 'Green Zebra'), unusual pepper varieties, heirloom open-pollinated vegetables, and any flower variety you found sold out in previous springs. Common, widely available varieties (Big Boy tomato, Celebrity, common basil) can wait until January–February.

Sources

1. Penn State Extension — Winter Planting and Planning
2. University of Minnesota Extension — Winter Gardening
3. Clemson HGIC — December Vegetables
4. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — December Planting Calendar
5. UF IFAS Extension — Florida Vegetable Planting
6. Missouri Botanical Garden — Winter Tree Care