What to plant in December — zone 10a
Zone 10a averages its last spring frost around January 30 and its first fall frost around December 25. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Dormant care
- Check season-extension geararound Dec 5
Patch row cover, cold frames and hoops now so a late freeze can't catch you unprepared.
- Pre-sprout seed potatoesaround Dec 19
Chit potatoes in a bright, cool spot for 2 weeks — sprouted pieces jump ahead once planted.
Start indoors
- Pepperaround Dec 5
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). Pinch first flowers on transplants so the plant invests in roots before setting fruit.
- Parsleyaround Dec 5
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). Soak seeds 24 hrs before sowing. Cut outer stems and it comes back for years in mild zones.
- Chivesaround Dec 5
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). Divide the clump every 3 years — one plant becomes six with no effort.
- Oreganoaround Dec 5
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). Harvest just before flowering for the strongest flavor. Dries beautifully.
- Thymearound Dec 5
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). Needs sharp drainage — plant in gravelly soil or a raised bed edge. Never wet feet.
- Sagearound Dec 5
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). Prune hard in spring to prevent woody stems and keep the plant productive for 5+ years.
- Tomatoaround Dec 19
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). Bury 2/3 of the transplant stem — roots form along the buried stem for a stronger plant.
- Kalearound Dec 19
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). Fall crop sweetens after first frost — plan a July sowing for the best flavor.
- Broccoliaround Dec 19
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). After cutting the main head, side shoots keep coming for weeks — don't pull the plant.
- Basilaround Dec 19
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). Pinch tips weekly. Once flowers open, leaves lose flavor — snip them fast.
- Basilaround Dec 19
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). Pinch flower spikes the moment you see them — leaves stay sweet all season.
Transplant out
- Raspberryaround Dec 19
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Blueberryaround Dec 19
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Blackberryaround Dec 19
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Grapearound Dec 19
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Applearound Dec 19
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Peararound Dec 19
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Peacharound Dec 19
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Rhubarbaround Dec 19
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
Garden care
- Wake the bedsaround Dec 26
Turn in compost, cut down cover crops, and let the soil warm two weeks before the first sowing.
Direct sow
- Peaaround Dec 26
Soil is ready -5 weeks before last frost.
Direct sow for fall
- Radisharound Dec 6
Counts back 30 days from your first frost. Frost-hardy — light freezes sweeten it.
Plant to overwinter
- Garlicaround Dec 11
Cloves go in about two weeks before first frost — they root now, sleep, then bulb next summer.
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