What to Plant in December — Winter Garden Guide by Zone 2026

What to plant in December by USDA hardiness zone

Zones 5–6 — Planning season, not planting season

In Zones 5-6, the outdoor garden is dormant through December. Snow or frozen ground makes exterior planting impossible. But December is far from wasted time — the preparation work done now has a direct impact on spring results.

• Order seeds now — critical: January and February seed orders from specialty companies often find the best varieties already sold out. Heirloom tomatoes, unusual pepper varieties, unique squash and melon selections — these go fast. Order from Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds, Fedco, or Uprising Seeds before the holiday rush. Having your seeds in hand before January means you're ready to start onions immediately.
• Amend empty beds with compost: Spread 3-4 inches of compost or aged manure on every empty bed. Winter freeze-thaw cycles and snowmelt integrate organic matter into soil far better than spring applications. Beds amended in December are dramatically better growing environments by April than beds amended in March.
• Harvest kale and Brussels sprouts: These two crops don't need protection and actually improve in flavor after multiple hard frosts. Kale picked in December is sweeter than September kale. Brussels sprouts reach peak flavor after several weeks of below-freezing temperatures — harvest the lowest buttons first, working up the stalk.
• Root vegetable storage in ground: Carrots, parsnips, and turnips left in the ground are protected by mulch (3-4 inches of straw over the row) and can be harvested as needed through December. Parsnips become exceptionally sweet after frost — they're worth leaving in the ground until needed.
• Tool maintenance: December downtime is for sharpening hoe blades and spade edges, oiling wooden handles, cleaning and adjusting pruners, and checking irrigation components for winter storage.

Zones 7–8 — Cold frame harvests and last outdoor tasks

December in Zone 7-8 (Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest, Upper South) is the heart of cold-frame gardening season. While outdoor planting is limited, protected growing extends the harvest considerably.

• Cold frame harvest: Mâche (corn salad) is at its peak — it actually prefers cold and grows slowly but steadily through December. Claytonia (miner's lettuce), spinach, and kale all continue producing under cold frame protection. In Zone 8 Pacific Northwest, outdoor kale, chard, and leeks continue growing without any protection.
• Check overwintering garlic: Garlic planted in October-November should have sprouted 2-4 inch green shoots by December. These can handle hard frosts — the tops may die back in cold snaps but the bulb survives. If garlic has pushed out of the ground from freeze-thaw cycles, press it back in and add another inch of mulch.
• Overwintering onion sets: Check that onion sets are still anchored in soil. Freeze-thaw cycles can push them out. Reinsert any heaved bulbs and add mulch if needed.
• Pea planting (Zone 8): In the mildest parts of Zone 8 (Pacific Northwest lowlands, parts of the Southeast), December is early pea planting season. Soil temperatures above 40°F (4°C) allow germination. Plant a small trial — if they sprout, continue; if not, wait until late January.
• Fruit tree pruning: Once deciduous trees drop their leaves, December through February is prime pruning time. Trees are fully dormant, structure is visible, and pruning now channels spring energy into productive growth rather than excess wood.

Zones 9–11 — Peak cool-season production

December is one of the three best gardening months of the year in warm-winter climates. Cool, frost-free temperatures (or very light, infrequent frost in Zone 9a) create ideal conditions for nearly every cool-season vegetable.

• Full harvest in progress: Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, lettuce, spinach, arugula, chard, beets, carrots, turnips, radishes, leeks, and peas are all harvestable in December in Zone 9-11. This is the salad and brassica season.
• Succession planting continues: Keep sowing lettuce, spinach, arugula, and Asian greens every 2-3 weeks. Direct sow radishes, beets, and carrots. These cool-season crops will begin to bolt when temperatures warm in March-April — keeping them planted on rotation ensures continuous harvest through winter.
• Peas in full production (Zone 10-11): Peas planted in September-October are climbing their trellises and producing pods in December. Keep them picked regularly — pods left on the plant signal the plant to stop flowering.
• Start planning spring transition: Cool-season crops will need to come out in March-April as heat builds. Plan now what summer crops will replace them and when you'll need to start those seeds indoors (typically January-February for peppers, February-March for tomatoes).
• Zone 10-11 early tomato starts: In the warmest gardens (Zone 10b-11), late December indoor tomato starts can work for February transplanting. This is niche timing — most Zone 10-11 gardeners start in January.

December planting calendar by USDA zone

December planning: the work that pays off in March

The experienced gardener's December is spent in three main activities: harvesting what remains, preparing the soil for next season, and planning the rotation and seed order. These tasks have an outsized impact on spring results.

Crop rotation planning

December — with the garden mostly bare and memory fresh from this year's results — is the best time to plan next year's rotation. The core rule: don't plant the same botanical family in the same bed two years in a row. The main families to rotate:

• Nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes) — most vulnerable to soilborne diseases when repeated. Rotate with at least one, ideally two, different families before returning.
• Brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, radishes, arugula) — prone to clubroot in heavy soils. A 3-year rotation minimum in problem soils.
• Legumes (beans, peas) — fix nitrogen; plant before heavy feeders like corn or leeks.
• Alliums (garlic, onions, leeks) — relatively flexible, but rotating away from their previous spot each year is good practice.

The seed order: December is the deadline

Specialty seed companies receive their largest order volumes in January and February. The most popular heirloom tomato varieties (Cherokee Purple, Brandywine, Black Krim), unusual peppers (Shishito, Jimmy Nardello, Aji Amarillo), and interesting squash selections often sell out by mid-January. Ordering in December — while you have quiet time to browse catalogs thoughtfully — guarantees you get what you want and have seeds in hand when January onion starting begins.

Frequently asked questions about what to plant in December