If you live in zones 9 & 10 you can still garden in December! This December planting guide will go through the crops that you can get started in your garden this month!
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This article is specifically for those of you who are living in zones 9 & 10. If you aren’t sure what your garden zone is you can follow this link to find out! If you aren’t in zones 9 or 10 you can check out our article on what to grow in December if you live in zone 8. Or if you live somewhere like me that is too cold for planting this month you can do these winter garden tasks.
Before we get started, remember that you can plant all of the crops on this list by seed, EXCEPT the crops that are in the cabbage family. They will need to be planted from seedlings, NOT SEEDS.
Alright, let’s get started! Here is my December planting guide for zones 9 & 10!
December Planting Guide
Beets
Beets are one of my favorite crops on this December planting guide. They’re packed full of nutrients and they’re fairly easy to grow.
Broccoli
There isn’t anything much better than broccoli grown in your own garden! Remember that broccoli is in the cabbage family, so you need to plant seedlings, NOT SEEDS!
Cabbage
Cabbage is a cool season vegetable that is perfect for growing in the winter in zones 9 & 10. Try planting some cabbage seedlings in your garden this month!
Onions
You can plant onions by seed in December if you live in zones 9 & 10. Onions planted by seed this month will be ready to harvest in May or June!
Carrots
Cooler temperatures make carrots taste much sweeter! I love winter grown carrots! They’re like candy for this gardener! One of my favorite varieties is called Little Finger.
Lettuce
Growing lettuce in the winter is a must, especially if you live in zones 9 & 10. Because warmer temperatures make lettuce bitter and can cause tip burn, lettuce is a great crop for growing in the cooler weather of the winter.
Spinach
Spinach grows well in the winter. You should be able to harvest some small leaves throughout the winter, but it will really take off once the weather starts to warm up and the days get longer in early spring! You can learn more about growing spinach here: Spinach Growing Guide
Peas
Although most people consider peas a spring crop, you can grow them in the fall or early winter if you live in zones 9 & 10. You can learn more about growing peas here: Growing Peas in Your Backyard Garden
Swiss Chard
Similar to spinach, Swiss Chard will grow well throughout the winter, providing you with a harvest of smaller leaves. Once the days start to get longer in February and March, it will really take off and you’ll be able to harvest the larger leaves.
Kale
Kale is another crop that is ideal for growing in the winter in zones 9 & 10. It is very hardy, so it can handle any cold temperatures. It also tastes much better when it is grown in cool weather!
Garlic
You can still get your garlic started in your garden if you live in zones 9 or 10! Personally I think garlic tastes much better when planted in the fall (or early winter!) You can read my garlic growing guide here: Growing Garlic in the Fall
Claytonia & Mache
Claytonia and Mache are some of my favorite winter crops. They’re incredibly hardy, so they can handle any cold days (although if you live in zones 9 & 10 cold days are few and far between!) They’re both great crops to try out in your garden this year and will give you a yummy harvest of greens to add to your salads!
December Planting Guide: Other Crops
The crops above are some of my favorites, but there are plenty of other crops that you can get started in your garden this month if you live in zones 9 or 10! Here are some ideas:
That’s all folks! I hope you’ve enjoyed this December planting guide. What will you be planting in your garden this month?
November Planting Guide: Zones 5 & 6
